Almost 200 people crowded into one of Burnham-On-Sea’s Ritz Cinema screens on Sunday (March 11th) to watch rare film footage of the town during the 1930s.
As we reported last month, a special screening of ‘Norman Gobey – Burnham’s Movie Maker’ was held to mark the launch of a new DVD featuring clips from his film.
Burnham-On-Sea’s Mayor, Eric Gill, and other VIPs from across the town gathered at the cinema to watch the film, which included rare footage of various town events from the 1930s.
Deborah Richardson, who is the producer of the DVD, is pictured presenting a bouquet of flowers to Norman’s daughter, Anne, after Sunday’s screening.
Filmed entirely on 9.5mm using a hand-held Pathé camera, Norman (pictured at the top of this page) crafted his footage into mini-movies, which he narrated or accompanied with music for the entertainment of others.
His daughter, Anne Gobey, donated his films of Burnham to the North Sedgemoor Local History Group and in 2005 these were entrusted to Somerset Film and Video, a local media charity that runs the Bridgwater-based Engine Room. This material and other films donated to the charity were transferred to digital format and brought to life once more.
Sunday’s screening was laid on free of charge at the Ritz Cienma in Victoria Street by cinema owner Pat Scott.
The DVD is now on sale at The Engine Room in The High Street, Bridgwater and Burnham Tourist Information Centre or by telephone on 01278 433187 priced £10 (+P&P). Proceeds will benefit registered charity Somerset Film and Video Ltd and the North Sedgemoor Local History Group.
RELATED LINKS:
Online video preview of Norman’s film
