Gladys and the Electric Palace
Gladys and the Electric Palace was a research and development project exploring the history of Picture Palaces and the Golden Age of Cinema. The central character Gladys was an usherette during the picture palace boom. Now retired and not content with the modern movies and multiplex’s she converts her ice cream tray into a mini cinema and starts to make her own movies. She plays homage to the female stars she has loved and admired all her working life.
We looked at films from the 1920’s 30’s and 40’s including the 1925 Phantom of the Opera. We concentrated on iconic stars like Lilian Gish Mae West and Joan Crawford. We then set Gladys lose on interpreting all these magnificent performances
The research took place during an artist residence at Hawkwood College supported by Strike a Light Festival. This meant that Gladys, inspired by Joan Crawford in Straight Jacket could run all over the grounds looking scared.
We are now looking for future funding to develop the idea further.
We are now looking for future funding to develop the idea further.