Family Lights Up Cinema History with Rare Palladium Treasures Loan

Ken Steel was just 14 years old when he began working at the Palladium cinema in Midsomer Norton, Somerset. His first job was to rewind the film reels after each movie. Over the years, Ken worked hard and eventually became the owner and manager of the cinema. The Palladium was more than just a workplace for Ken and his family—it was a big part of their lives. The Steel family lived in a small stone cottage right next to the cinema. At night, they could hear the sounds of movies through the walls. Ken often needed help running the cinema, so his children would help out by selling tickets, cleaning, and making sure everything ran smoothly.

The Steel family has kept many special items from the Palladium, including a rare double cinema seat and a piece of the original silver screen. They have decided to loan these items to a new exhibition called 'Lights! Camera! Action! : 120 Years of Cinemas and Films in Bath. ' This exhibition is being held at the Museum of Bath at Work until November 29. Visitors can see the old cinema seat, a section of the silver screen, and learn about the history of cinemas in Bath. The exhibition was put together by Ann Cullis, who researched the history of cinema in Bath by looking at old records and family stories.

Ashley Steel, Ken's daughter, remembers helping her father at the cinema. She did many jobs, like cleaning toilets, selling tickets, and even watching the film projector to make sure it worked properly. Her sister Melinda said their father loved the cinema more than anything else. When the Palladium closed in 1993, Ken was heartbroken. The exhibition also tells the story of other cinemas in Bath, such as the Little Theatre Cinema and the Everyman, as well as cinemas that have closed long ago. The exhibition shows how cinemas have changed over time, especially with the arrival of digital technology. Even though the way people watch movies has changed, the exhibition reminds us that going to the cinema is still a special experience that people enjoy sharing together.