Asteroid at Genesis
AFTER WATCHING THE trailer for Wes Anderson’s latest film “Asteroid City”, which was released in the UK in June 2023, I could barely wait to see the movie. We chose to view it in a cinema that I had passed several times in the past, but never entered – Genesis in London’s Mile End Road, not far from Stepney Green Underground station. It has an Art Deco façade and a long history (described in full on https://genesiscinema.co.uk/GenesisCinema.dll/Page?p=3&m=mm).
In brief, the site occupied by Genesis was first the location of a pub called Lusby’s, which opened in 1848 and later became a music hall. After it was destroyed by fire, the Paragon Theatre, designed by Frank Matcham (1854-1920), opened in 1885. Matcham was responsible for the design of many of London’s theatres. Between 1912 and 1989, the theatre was used as a cinema, and had many different owners. It closed in 1989. The cinema’s website includes the following episode which occurred in 1963:
“Princess Margeret was scheduled to attend the royal premiere of Barbara Windsor’s film ‘Sparrows Can’t Sing’. However, as notorious East End gangsters, The Kray twins were also attending, royal protocol meant that her husband Lord Snowdon had to attend in her place. So, needless to say, everyone ended up at the afterparty at the pub over the road… the Kray twins’ Kit Kat Club.”
In 1998, Tyrone Walker-Hebborn, an electrician, fell in love with the deserted cinema, refurbished it, and opened it as the Genesis Cinema in 1999. Having seen multiplex cinemas in the USA, he converted Genesis into a multi-screen cinema complex. During the covid19 pandemic, Tyrone took advantage of the fact that nobody could enter his cinemas, and refurbished many aspects of the building including the foyer and bar. Today, Genesis is a pleasant place both to enjoy a drink and to watch a film – and the ticket prices are reasonable by London standards.
As for “Asteroid City”, which has received many rave reviews, I was disappointed. Although the film has many wonderful moments, I did not think it was as wonderful as Anderson’s films such as “Darjeeling Express” and “Grand Hotel Budapest”. On a positive note, the Genesis cinema complex is a place I hope to visit often.
