DiscoverThe Filmumentaries Podcast135 - Inside the historic Carlton Cinema with historian Nigel Smith
135 - Inside the historic Carlton Cinema with historian Nigel Smith

135 - Inside the historic Carlton Cinema with historian Nigel Smith

Update: 2025-09-23
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Cinema historian Nigel Smith joins Jamie to explore the hidden history of London’s picture houses. In particular the Egyptian-style Carlton in Islington. Nigel brings these spaces back to life through stories, archives, and first-hand recollections. In this episode, Nigel and Jamie discuss:
  • How London’s old cinemas became coffee shops, bingo halls, and churches
  • The difference between “going to the pictures” in the 1930s–50s and cinema-going today
  • How local archives, trade papers, and oral histories help piece together forgotten stories
  • Why repertory and community cinemas may hold the key to the future of film-going
  • Nigel’s Memory Palaces project, documenting almost 100 cinema buildings with photos and stories
Find more from Nigel:
memorypalaces.co.uk and Instagram @nigelsmithwalks.



This podcast is completely independent and made possible by listener support. If you’d like to help me keep making these episodes, you can join my Patreon community here: https://patreon.com/jamiebenning

Watch more on YouTube:
Check out the Filmumentaries YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips and extra content: https://youtube.com/filmumentaries

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135 - Inside the historic Carlton Cinema with historian Nigel Smith

135 - Inside the historic Carlton Cinema with historian Nigel Smith

Jamie Benning