Montagu Pyke
Person Male Born 1874 Died /9/1935
In 1908 Pyke converted two shops at 164-166 Edgware Road into a cinema. This was a success and he created more, naming each one the Cinematograph Theatre. By 1910 he had 5 cinemas, each an independent company and he created the holding company Amalgamated Cinematograph Theatres Ltd. But he was an unscrupulous business man and bankrupt by 1915. Not a good year for him because an employee died in a fire (an inherent risk of handling nitrate film) and he was accused of manslaughter, though he was acquitted. This fire was in the Charing Cross Road cinema which the plaque now marks.
A list of the 16 cinemas in the 'Pyke circuit' at its height is given on the picture source website.
2019: Spitalfields Life reports on the ignominious status of the Shepherds Bush Cinematograph Theatre.
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