Compton Club
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Undertow |
The Compton Club |
Bronco Bullfrog |
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The newly founded Compton Club builds upon this film legacy. Drawing its name both from the club originally founded by Tenser and Klinger, and the superb refurbished Compton Organ, the ethos of the Compton would is one of dynamism and inclusivity, and to develop ideas and initiatives that show the creativity and dynamism that exists within the University as well as paying homage to its history.
History of The Compton Club
The Old Cinema at the University of Westminster has an important place in film history. Perhaps most famously the first presentation of the cinematograph by the Lumiere Brothers took place there on 20 February 1896. Preceding this, whilst still called the Royal Polytechnic Institution, it was world renowned for its pioneering 'Magic Lantern' shows and still maintains links with the Magic Lantern Society.
Outside of this the Old Cinema, known at various times as the Cameo-Poly and Cameo News Theatre, was also linked to a private members club known as The Compton Cinema Club, run by Tony Tenser and Michael Klinger. Interestingly, John Trevelyan, Secretary of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) between 1958 and 1971, was allegedly a founding member. A number of notable UK and world premieres have been held at the Cinema including La Vie Commence Demain and the lost mod classic Bronco Bullfrog.
The first initiative of the Compton Club was a short film series, entitled Banned! The Regulation of Film. The first X -Certificate rated film was shown at the Cinema in January 1951, and this series looks at a number of films that have proved contentious in the period since this landmark event.
