The Chapman family and cinema in Strokestown. 

 

The Chapman family made a major contribution to cinema in Strokestown. Billy Chapman ran the cinema from the 1940's into the 1950's. He died in 1959. During the late 1940's he made local short movies for showing at the breaks between films. Thankfully these films have survived (they are in The National Film Archive in Dublin). They are now also available on DVD. (left). Edited by George Reynolds, proceeds from the sale go to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. One thousand copies have been pressed, in two batches, up to May 2008. (see 2008 Publications). The DVD includes a booklet on Billy Chapman and the films.

We are privileged to have in our possession one very fragile poster for the Club Cinema in Strokestown (right). The fact that this item survived at all is a miracle.

Below is an example of a film distribution agreement from 1936 for Leo Caslin of Strokestown. We include it here for its interest and connection with Strokestown. If anyone can provide us with any information on the Caslin Cinema era in Strokestown we would be delighted to give the subject its own page.

If anyone has further material concerning the cinema in Strokestown, or cinema anywhere in Roscommon, please contact us.

 

We also have a small file of newspaper articles concerning the launch of the DVD in Strokestown on 14th. March 2008.

 Copies of the DVD are available from Mike Lennon. (Click on link to email)

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