A Brighton cinema is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a rare screening of a film set in the town.
The Duke of York’s first opened its doors on 22 September 1910. To mark the start of its centenary year, the cinema is to show Penny Points to Paradise.
The U certificate film, made in 1951, was written by and stars three of the men who won fame shortly afterwards for their radio comedy series The Goon Show.
Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe’s cheap and cheerful comedy tells the story of a man who wins £100,000 on the pools.
He refuses to let it go to his head, returning instead to his modest B&B, but it turns out not to be his best idea.
The film, which climaxes in a Brighton wax works, is showing at 1.30am on Sunday 17 January.
Other events to celebrate the Duke of York’s centenary include the creation of an interactive website intended to serve as a virtual museum dedicated to the cinema’s history.
The project is being backed by Cinecity, the Brighton film and moving image agency, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
A book on the cinema’s history is also due to be published, while more events and screenings are due to take place during the year.
