Snapshot of the town’s cinema history - a look at the village cinemas from yesteryear: Marsden

Jul 14 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THEY were a formidable yet welcoming force.

And they kept a village cinema going for 57 years.

One of the Huddersfield area’ longest running picture houses was Marsden’s Electric – the only cinema to be run completely by women.

Thomas Leyland had come to Marsden in 1911 and bought the Electric Bioscope and Theatre. He initially showed films from a corrugated iron building while the Electric was built on Fall Lane.

By 1918 the cinema had been built and his daughter Laura Beardsall worked there as manager. She was assisted by her twin nieces Muriel and Marie Kitson.

When Mr Leyland died in 1949 Mrs Beardsall took over its ownership.

During their time at the Electric, Muriel would be seen front of house selling the ice-cream and lollies, and her twin would be back of house in the projection box.

Mrs Beardsall sold the tickets and affectionately became known as Auntie Laura to the villagers.

By the early 70s the future of the Electric was uncertain and the family appeared on BBC TV’s Nationwide programme talking of their struggle to keep the cinema open.

However, by 1975 illness threatened its future. Mrs Beardsall was unwell and Marie had been admitted to hospital for the third time.

It forced the temporary closure of the cinema, with Muriel saying at the time: “At the moment it doesn’t seem likely that we shall be able to open again, although we have not yet made a final decision.”

But it was four years later in January 1979 that its future was finally decided – a heavy downfall of snow caused the roof to collapse and by the end of the month it was announced it would be demolished.

The area where the cinema once stood is now the home to industrial works and recreation land.