AP Picture Houses v Wednesbury: Difference between revisions
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In 1947, the Wednesbury Corporation in Staffordshire granted Associated Provincial Picture Houses a licence to operate a cinema. One of the conditions was that no children under 15, whether or not accompanied by an adult, could be admitted on Sundays. | In 1947, the Wednesbury Corporation in Staffordshire granted Associated Provincial Picture Houses a licence to operate a cinema. One of the conditions was that no children under 15, whether or not accompanied by an adult, could be admitted on Sundays. | ||
This seems arbitrary nowadays but the 1909 | This seems arbitrary nowadays but the 1909 ''Cinematograph Act'' allowed cinemas to operate between Mondays and Saturdays but ''not at all'' on Sundays. Only the local neighbourhood commanding officer of military forces (this we must assume would have been a gentleman like Captain Mainwaring) could apply to the licensing authority to open a cinema on Sunday. | ||
This was 1909. But 1932, the world of cinematic entertainment had undergone profound change, and in that year — some 15 years before the material facts in the case — the ''Sunday Entertainments Act 1932'' permitted local authorities to licence Sunday opening for cinemas “subject to such conditions as the authority may think fit to impose”. | This was 1909. But 1932, the world of cinematic entertainment had undergone profound change, and in that year — some 15 years before the material facts in the case — the ''Sunday Entertainments Act 1932'' permitted local authorities to licence Sunday opening for cinemas “subject to such conditions as the authority may think fit to impose”. |