Phoenix News Article

September 2008 Surprise visitors at Open House

September's Open House event proved to be very popular again at the Phoenix. Visitors were able to view the historic auditorium, hear the history of the cinema and also visit the projection booth.

Two surprise visitors were particularly welcome. Clare and Catherine Morgan (pictured below) are the daughter and grand-daughter of Michael Egan, one of the designers of the wonderful panels within our auditorium.

In partnership with Eugene Mollo, the duo worked as one of the liveliest design talents of cinemas in the UK throughout the 1930's. Mollo and Egan created striking auditoriums throughout the country and transformed interiors with their vivid designs. In general, Mollo provided murals, other sprayed paint decoration, and the jazzy carpet patterns. Egan was more involved in the decorative plasterwork and in the structural aspects of their schemes. In many instances at other cinemas, their contribution extended as far as the design of payboxes, organ consoles and curtains. Their work in the Phoenix was erected in 1938 and is now listed.