Lancing and Sompting
LUXOR CINEMA

© Geoff Caulton

An evidently popular screening of the 1943 film "White Savage"? It may not be, as apparantly previous images on the film were for a uniformed parade, and it is possible the crowd is entering the cinema for a service or other form of meeting. The billed film, however, was based on a story by Peter Milne, and the music composer was a Frank Skinner! Films were showing continuously from 1pm to 10pm daily, 5pm to 10pm on Sundays. The following week's film appears to be "Cracked Nuts", a 1941 slapstick comedy. The text on the arrow of what is now the cycle shop (see 2003 photograph) says "Free covered cycle lock-up accomodation. The writing on the door to the left says "Coal". The cinema owner is shown as Basil Fortesque, and the manager appears to be someone by the name of Alfred. The telephone number for the cinema was Lancing 3000.