What’s happening?
So you know there’s this thing on called the Labia Celebration Exchange, and it sounds quite fun and interesting (well, there’s celebrating, and that’s fun, and getting to exchange things is usually pretty interesting), but what’s it all about? Why now? What’s all the fuss about?
Well, it’s mainly to commemorate a pretty extraordinary place. The Labia Cinema. None other than the oldest independent art cinema in the country. The building has what is probably the most interesting beginning that any building could wish for – it was originally used as a ballroom for the Italian Embassy, and was later opened as a live theatre by none other than Princess Labia in 1949. Which makes it, if you do your maths, exactly 60 years old this year. 20 of those
60 years have been home to the Labia as we know and love it today, which makes this year, 2009, a double whammy of a celebration.
Care to join in?
Think about it - what other cinema can boast not only old-world ambience, a coffee bar that serves beer, and a chocolate and sweeties counter, but also a mural of Venice behind the drinks counter (ha! Didn’t notice that, did you?) and the strangest numbers of cinema seats ever known to man or woman – a 176 seater, a 95 seater, a 67 seater and a 60 seater. And don’t even let’s get started on the details!
There is nothing quite so special as coming into the warmly-lit Labia lobby, buying an old-fashioned cardboard ticket from Rose in the booth, grabbing a beer or coffee from Harold at the bar, buying a paper bag of popcorn from Claire at the Choc Bar, and having your ticket torn by long-time usher Christine.
If that’s not something to celebrate, we don’t know what is!
So come in, take a load off, relax, and enjoy. Choose from over twenty of the best movies from the last two decades.
Welcome to the Labia Exchange Celebration.
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