The 1939 Diary of a Belfast Cinema-goer

In this talk, cinema historian Sam Manning uses a 1939 diary to explore cinema-going habits in 1930s Belfast. The anonymous diarist recorded and rated all 325 films they saw in 1939, revealing their preferences at a time when a trip to the flicks was the most popular leisure activity. The talk also looks at the diarist’s favourite venues, including picture palaces such as the Majestic and the Ritz. Although the writer never recorded their name, the diary entries contain clues that may help reveal their identity. Join Sam to discover more about Belfast’s cinema history and perhaps help uncover the mystery diarist.