Murphy’s Town Hall Cinema Athenry 7 which would enable the police to identify anyone... Mr L Lardner stated that he attended the entertainment. He did not hear any observations made by the defendant. The pictures were given a mixed reception of cheers and hisses... Mr John Cleary gave corroborative evidence...” NB: Included here as further proof of early screenings in Athenry Town Hall It seems highly probable, based on his June 1915 correspondence (see images at the back of this Volume), that Robert McDonald, Proprietor of the Premier Cinema Swords, screened films in the Hall around about this time: “Would you please be as kind as (to) let me know if it would be possible to rent the Hall from you for Cinema Entertainment, I have good Equipment & would like to get started... if you would entertain the idea, kindly let me know at your earliest convenience & we could arrange terms...” 1916 – Again, in the broader context of Irish Cinema, we can garner more insight from Brian McIlroy’s book: “By 1916 there were approximately 150 cinemas and halls showing films in Ireland...” Irish Cinema – An Illustrated History by Brian McIlroy, page 19 We know from the 1915 entries above, that Murphy’s Hall in Athenry was already included among that number. 16th July 1923 – The Minister for Home Affairs, Kevin O'Higgins, a member of the Government of the fledgling Irish Free State (aka Saorstát Éireann) passes the 1923 Censorship of Films Act: “AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE OFFICIAL CENSORING OF CINEMATOGRAPH PICTURES AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.” Under Section 2(1) of that Act, the Minister appointed James Montgomery as the first Irish Film Censor. James Montgomery served in the role until 1940: “Admitting that he had no qualifications for the job, he later stated that the two things he kept in mind when deciding whether or not to reject films were the Ten Commandments and Aesop's fable about a man who tried to please everybody but succeeded in pleasing nobody.” Quote from The Dictionary of Irish Biography, contribution by Marie Coleman 27th June 1925 – The Censorship of Films (AMENDMENT) Act of 1925 extended censorship powers to include posters and displays outside cinemas and halls: “AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTROL OF PICTORIAL ADVERTISEMENTS OF CINEMATOGRAPH PICTURES AND FOR THAT AND OTHER PURPOSES TO AMEND THE CENSORSHIP OF FILMS ACT, 1923” 12th January 1927 – A 1925 Black & White Silent Motion Picture ‘comedy short’ (i.e. 2 film reels long) 12 titled Won By Law, starring Wanda Wiley, Bob Reeves, Lillian Worth and Frank Whitson was screened (source: A surviving Invoice from the European Motion Picture Company Ltd, dated 15th January 1927). 13 NB: The earliest documented screening of a motion picture in the Hall. The following film synopsis is from Lost Laugh magazine Issue #13, page 18: “Wanda is a bored rich girl, so lazy that she sits down to play tennis. She is roused from her apathy when she is sent to the backwoods, and learns to love the outdoor life.” NB: This film was directed and written by Edward Ludwig. Wanda Wiley (real name Roberta Prestina Wiley, 1902–1987) was a Silent Era Movie Star from Texas. During the 1920s Wanda starred in 46 Two-Reel Century Film Corporation Comedy Shorts, including The Trouble Fixer (1924), Won By Law (1925), A Thrilling Romance (1926) and Thanks for the Boat Ride (1927). Invoice extract below: 14 1st July 1929 – Once again we are indebted to Brian McIlroy’s Irish Cinema – An Illustrated History, regarding the arrival of film with sound into Ireland, commonly known as Talkies or Talking Pictures: 12 Each film reel held about 1,000 feet of film and lasted about 10 minutes of screen time. A 2 reel film short was therefore about 20 minutes long. See image capture of Wanda Wiley on the front cover from A Thrilling Romance (1926). Wanda is also seen on the inside of the front cover. 13 The European Motion Picture Company was based on Burgh Quay in Dublin city 14 The full European Motion Picture Company Ltd Invoice can be seen in the images at the back of this Volume
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