Scala Cinema in London’s Kings Cross was renowned for its programme and all-nighters. But when I started researching the Electric cinema history, I realised there had been an underground movement that started before… flashback to 2011 when celebrating the Electric’s centenary meant one thing: research. A lot of research. Many happy hours were spent in the archives at Kensington & Chelsea Library, trawling through boxes of old programmes, flyers, and photographs. The reward for all that detective work was a centenary brochure and a year-long celebration of the Electric’s most memorable moments in its history.
That deep dive unearthed one of my favourite discoveries—the Electric Cinema Club (ECC). As they put it, they were “a bunch of hippies who took it over for late-night shows and started an alternative repertory cinema.” From 1968 to 1983, they turned Portobello Road into London’s original rep cinema, showing films that didn’t even make it to the NFT (National Film Theatre, now the BFI South Bank).
Peter Howden (now programming the Rio Cinema in Dalston) and Geoff Andrew (later Head of Film Programme at the BFI and contributing editor of TimeOut) were part of the team that transformed the place. When the Electric’s manager, despairing at dwindling audiences, handed them Friday nights, they made such a success of it that Saturdays soon followed – and then the rest of the week. The result? A cinema beloved by Stephen Frears, Don Letts, Vivienne Westwood, Nic Roeg, Stephen Woolley, and even a young Pedro Almodóvar, back when he was just another film student in London.
Their legendary Friday and Saturday all-nighters featured four films back-to-back, from 11 p.m. until dawn, with tea served from a cubbyhole at the back of the auditorium. There are some raucous stories from those nights… though you’ll have to ask the ECC directly for the more scandalous ones.
When planning our centenary programme, we knew we had to honour that spirit—and so the Electric All-Nighter was reborn. Halloween seemed the perfect excuse. The first event paid tribute to John Carpenter with a line-up of Halloween, The Fog, The Thing and Escape from New York. Guests were greeted with Espresso Martinis on arrival, and, just after 3 a.m., the Breakfast Break kicked in. Fried egg baps with either bacon, sausage, fried chicken or mushroom, chips, chocolate brownies, and tea or coffee (obviously) were served at their seats. (The bar stayed open, because of course it did.) After that, guests tucked themselves under blankets for the final films – and yes, more than a few snores.
The All Night at the Electric tradition stuck, proudly adopting the tagline “The Best Worst Night of Your Life.” Each year, as they left, guests received Recovery Kits to face the morning light—one year Cowshed products, the next Bloody Mary kits complete with mini Grey Goose vodka bottles and the Electric’s own tomato mix, packaged in old VHS cases. Shame social media wasn’t such a thing then — the photo ops were endless.
The all-nighters were real team efforts, with everyone – from the kitchen to the projection booth – pitching in, even if it did mean working till sunrise.
If that kind of cinema experience sounds like your idea of fun, the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square still flies the all-nighter flag with great success.
But wouldn’t it be great to bring them back to the Electric?
Let them know—and start stocking up on caffeine...
Words by Mandy Kean
Mandy Kean was previously International Director of Cinema for Soho House & Co. The Electric was the jewel in the portfolio of cinemas in her remit for over 20 years. Mandy now co-owns Mustard Studio with Kate Gerova, which they launched in 2020, collaborating with independent cinemas and film businesses on thoughtful and sustainable ways to transform operations and elevate experiences.