Wansteadium

Geoff Wilkinson writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “Early in the morning the visibility really was limited, I was pleased not to be driving. By the time I got to Christchurch Green it had thinned out a little. It was really spooky with figures emerging from and disappearing into the fog. If we get a third morning of it I will definitely think I have been transported back into some bad 1950’s horror film. “

There is just one week to go before the Wanstead Kinema screening of the all-time Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life. More than half the tickets have already been snapped up, so if you want to come, please do make sure you buy in advance. Numbers are strictly limited.

There has been a slight alteration to arrangements for the screening which will take place at Grove Hall (the Treehouse After-School Club on Grosvenor Road) on Sunday 22 December at 7.30pm: we will now have access to some chairs and some benches. So if the thought of bringing cushions to sit on the floor was putting you off, you can relax. Numbers of seats are still limited though, so do bring your own seating if you can.

Some interesting articles about the film have been written this week. In one, on the Churchmouse Campanologist site, the author writes: “[James] Stewart plays George [Bailey] with the sense of terror and hysteria that sometimes attacks honest men when they are broken. His facial expressions are priceless — most effective…. This is a 20-minute sequence which will rip most people’s hearts out. Up to this point, Capra has shown us the strong friendships which George has forged as well throughout his life as well as the respect which people show him for his kindness and integrity. It’s because of him that Bedford Falls works as a town with responsible, loving citizens helping each other. Capra makes the Pottersville contrast startling and frightening.”

Anyone wishing to riff on the Wanstead/Bedford Falls parallels (which George C Parker cunningly started last week), be our guest. Contact us at wansteadium@gmail.com

• Buy tickets at WansteadKinema.org. £5 each.

Our annual foray into schools data. Figures from the Department for Education for Wanstead primary schools is below, showing a jump for Snaresbrook (recently relieved from potential forced “academisation”) and a fall for Wanstead Church School. There’s a Q&A here from the BBC which explains some of the details.

Wanstead Barber turned film set on Monday. Arc lights, props, thick cables, actors, blokes standing around on the pavement, that sort of thing. But not Mike Leigh this time – it was just an advert, rather than high filmic art.

The shop is looking so smart after its refurbishment it’s not surprising it caught some location scout’s eye. The product in question is not yet known (shop staff are sworn to secrecy) until early Jan when the advert will be shown.

 

 

@Wansteadium I was in the traffic outside and there was a young lady dressed in racing silks- I think it was Coral on her leg…..:)

— Antony Ince (@inceywinceys) December 9, 2013

Geoff Wilkinson wrote on Friday on Wanstead Daily Photo: “Fabulous skies for the last two mornings. I missed  the one yesterday, I was working before the sun came up but I did manage to grab this quick shot of the one this morning. It was taken on my iPhone through double glazing hence the flare but I thought it was still worth capturing.”

People of Wanstead, great news!

The Wanstead Kinema – our very own pop-up cinema – is returning for a Christmas special. And even better news is that it will be showing the world’s favourite festive film, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Just like the first outing of the Wanstead Kinema in the summer, this should be an atmospheric and memorable event. UNLIKE the first outing, this will be held indoors, so there is no chance of getting soaked again.

It’s a one-off screening at 7.30pm on Sunday 22 December. It will be held at Grove Hall on Grosvenor Road, thanks to the generous hosting of the Treehouse After School club. Drinks and refreshments will be available.

Tickets are £5 each, and are limited in numbers. You can buy them now only via this website: Kinema.wansteadium.com. Buy your tickets now, get your babysitter booked, get your wings down from the loft.