This unique book gathers all 178 of the Scala’s iconic monthly programmes along with rare photographs, ephemera, and an in-depth, often outrageous time-travelling commentary to take the reader behind the scenes of London's infamous and influential cult cinema.
Postpunk and predigital, the Scala cinema was the most infamous and influential of all cinemas, a pirate ship on the stormy seas of Britain’s Thatcher government, 1978-1993. Specialising in cult movies, arthouse classics, horror, sexploitation, Kung Fu, Psychotronic, and LGBTQ+, the Scala showed a different double-bill every day with legendary Saturday All-Nighters, music gigs and club nights. Over a million people passed through its doors, including future filmmakers, musicians, writers, artists, actors, and activists, who would credit the Scala as part of their cultural inspiration.
Jane Giles' unique book gathers all 178 of the Scala’s iconic monthly programmes along with rare photographs, ephemera, and an in-depth, often outrageous time-travelling commentary to take the reader behind the scenes of the cinema described by John Waters as “a country club for criminals and lunatics and people that were high… which is a good way to see movies”.
