{"id":1989301,"date":"2025-08-31T06:04:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T06:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1989301"},"modified":"2025-08-31T06:04:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T06:04:03","slug":"cinema-celebrates-50th-birthday-with-jaws-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/cinema-celebrates-50th-birthday-with-jaws-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinema celebrates 50th birthday with Jaws event"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">An independent cinema is celebrating its 50th anniversary some 15 years after its future was in doubt as part of local authority cuts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">King Street Cinema in Ipswich is the county town&#8217;s only independent cinema, first opening in 1975 in the Corn Exchange\/Town Hall complex.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The cinema previously closed in 2009 when the company in charge claimed it could not make a profit, but it was reopened again by an independent trust the following year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Friday, a 50th celebratory screening of Jaws which also premiered in 1975, was held which Dan Champion, programme and managing director of the cinema, said he had been &#8220;very excited&#8221; about.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Dan Champion said he had been very excited for the anniversary [Angelle Joseph\/BBC]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The two-screen venue opened as the Ipswich Film Theatre in 1975.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The cinema was previously run as a subsidised venue by Ipswich Borough Council until 2008.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The ruling Conservatives at the time <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/local\/suffolk\/hi\/people_and_places\/arts_and_culture\/newsid_8552000\/8552316.stm?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:handed it over;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">handed it over<\/a> to the Hollywood chain when it struggled to bring in money amid council cutbacks, and it then closed when Hollywood gave it up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Volunteer campaigners managed to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/local\/suffolk\/low\/people_and_places\/arts_and_culture\/newsid_8552000\/8552316.stm?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reopen it in 2010;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">reopen it in 2010<\/a> and it has been running ever since, albeit on fewer days per week, and with a closure during the Covid lockdowns from 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Mr Champion, who was also celebrating his own 50th birthday, said the cinema had been a &#8220;cultural fixture of cinema in Ipswich for successive audiences&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a very important venue in that regard, considering the lack of cultural cinema in East Anglia,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;This has been a venue that has shown independent, British and foreign language cinema and we continue to do that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Those at the event on Friday enjoyed shark-themed cupcakes and cocktails.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The entrance into King Street Cinema. A poster detailing films and timings is stuck on the inside of the window.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/yPo4Wye0PjIllOm_k8KPqA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/d2dbacbb36bb81da9c9f3bbc1a1c0f77\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The cinema on King Street originally opened as the Ipswich Film Theatre in 1975 [Angelle Joseph\/BBC]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg and its legendary music composed by John Williams, was first released in June 1975.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It tells the story of when a shark unleashed chaos on a beach community leaving many generations shared of the animals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It won three Oscars, including for its score, and it became the first movie to gross over $100m at the US box office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Mr Champion said he believed the film &#8220;changed the course of cinema&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;If you go right back to the beginning, everything comes from something else, whether it&#8217;s novels, paintings, writing, film,&#8221; he explained.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Everybody in each successive generation learns from those who came before and I think this is a film that everybody still learns about today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;It is still discussed in film circles as an incredibly influential film in the craft of filmmaking.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He added it was an &#8220;exceptionally well told&#8221; film which had &#8220;stood the test of time&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Follow Suffolk news on <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sounds\/curation\/p0cjdz3v?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:BBC Sounds;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>BBC Sounds<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BBCSuffolk\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Facebook;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>Facebook<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bbceastofengland\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Instagram;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>Instagram<\/em><\/a><em> and <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BBCsuffolk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:X;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><em>X<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Stories like this<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Related internet links<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An independent cinema is celebrating its 50th anniversary some 15 years after its future was in doubt as part of local authority cuts. King Street Cinema in Ipswich is the county town&#8217;s only independent cinema, first opening in 1975 in the Corn Exchange\/Town Hall complex. The cinema previously closed in 2009 when the company in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1989302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[313575,358990,358992,358991,358993,358994],"class_list":["post-1989301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-50th-anniversary","tag-dan-champion","tag-independent-cinema","tag-ipswich-borough-council","tag-ipswich-film-theatre","tag-movie-theatre"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Cinema-celebrates-50th-birthday-with-Jaws-event.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1989301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1989301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1989301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1989302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1989301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1989301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1989301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}