LIGHTING MERGES WITH ARCHITECTURE
Lighting in the new Cecil Cinema, Huli,
is an outstanding example of the success- ful results of close collaboration between an architect and lighting engineer,
On the site of the new cinema there stood originally the Hull Trinity alms- houses. These and the first Cecil Cinema were destroyed in an air raid in May, 1941, and the site remained derelict until 1955, when government restrictions on the building or re-building of places of enter- tainment had been lifted.
From the outset of the re-building project, R.J, Reynolds of the Fittings Design Office and H.G.M. Miller of the Illuminating Engineering Department of The General Electric Co. Ltd., worked with the architects, Gelder & Kitchen, of Hull, to create lighting effects which are at the same time, functional to provide for the minimum levels of illumination since specified for cinemas; decorative
the interior decor of a cinema depends largely on the effects of artificial lighting: and aesthetically agreeable so as to provide an atmosphere of luxury relaxation for patrons.
AUDITORIUM
and
The main lighting feature in the audi- torium comprises five continuous runs of Osram Deluxe warm white cold cathode tubing housed behind gilt coloured sheet metal baffles in specially designed recesses in the ceiling.
There is no direct view of the light source from any part of th• auditorium, Sliding locking pieces allow 8 ft. sections of the baffle to hinge down so that tube replacement can be effected by pulling the sections from below. The roof con-
up struction and elaborate ventilation system precludes the possibility of replacing tubes from above the suspended ceiling.
The baffles leave a clearance of 10 in. at each side wall and appear to "float' in the centre of a band of strong light, while a line of circular piercings along the entire length of each feature obviates the 'heavy' appearance which would otherwise be apparent owing to a violent contrast of black and white. The system
is electronically dimmed by means of auto- matic push button control operated from the projection room.
BALCONY
A view of the auditorium of the Cecil Cinema, Hull.
The foyer of the Cecil Cinema.
ORGAN CONSOLE
General lighting over the balcony and in the stalls below the balcony is provided been created by painting the ceiling dark The silvered expanded metal sections by 9 in diameter recessed fittings with
frames form blue and installing fifty miniature lighting and wood
a contrast in the on
cream colour concentric prismatic obscured glasses, while
fittings mounted in lines converging on reflecting surfaces secondary lighting throughout the audito-
the stage.
These fittings consist of flush organ grille, and the neat black spinnings rium is by 4 in. diameter circular recessed mounted satin brass spinnings with a cen- mounted in alternate steps emphasise the fittings with 15W pygmy lamps. Care in tre hole through which the lower part of 'staggered' shape of the feature. the positioning of the points has resulted the lamp bulb projects. in combining the general, primary and The texture of the decorative acoustic The G.E.C. design office developed a secondary maintained fittings into a pleas- ing symmetric overall pattern of luminated panelling on the side walls is enhanced by new method for the lighting of the organ two rows of seven "diabolo" shaped wall console. The design comprises an illum- brackets. Their shades, which are fabri- inated surround in sheet metal with groups The An interesting "night sky" effect is cated to match the plum colour back- of four holes pierced over its area.
to match the produced in the area of celing which ground of the floor carpet, provide an feature is painted cream narrows towards the proscenium. It has attractive, warm coloured relief.
organ body. When unlit it appears to be a
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discs.
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