Film exhibition and distribution in Ireland, 1909–2010

Kevin Rockett with Emer Rockett

‘By detailing the social, cultural, political, technical, censorship and architectural aspects of film exhibition and cinema-going, this hefty book dissects an industry that has brought movies to our screens for over a century … It appears the Rocketts have left no stone unturned, consulting countless – often elusive – sources to present this history … One essential part of this book is dedicated to a comprehensive database of cinemas and film venues in operation across the island from the early 1900s to 2010 … at eighty densely printed pages this database alone – which would have easily filled a separate publication – makes the book an invaluable record and reference when working with, or further researching, historic cinemas. This tome – together with its twin, Magic Lantern – illuminates a fascinating key aspect of Irish history, all too often sidelined as a mass-entertainment medium, though an account that can be considered a definitive resource for some time to come. Buy it, borrow it, or hunker down for a few hours’ browse at your local bookshop; if you’re interested in cinema(s) in Ireland, you shouldn’t miss either of these two books. Verdict: four stars – detailed and exhaustive; definitive volume on film exhibition; comprehensive cinema record', Marc Zimmermann, The Cinematograph (March 2012).

‘ … [An] encyclopaedic study … a monumental study … taken together [with Magic Lantern] these volumes constitute a portable archive, which scholars of Irish popular culture and the sociology of the everyday will find valuable', Keith Hopper, TLS (16 November 2012).

‘Film exhibition and distribution in Ireland, 1909–2010 addresses an area which often falls beneath the radar of academic enquiry … it is clear that the book is the result of a long and assiduous research effort … every conceivable sources of information has been examined …it may be that the most important long-term impact of this book with be in having laid the groundwork on the consumption of screen media in Ireland', Roderick Flynn, Irish Historical Studies (November 2012).