Many people have their own memories of the Scala and my most vivid one is of a Werewolf all-nighter - if "vivid" is really a good word for an evening where I fell asleep during at least two of the six films!
This excellent documentary captures many others' reminiscences of the place and the programmes, and features a wide range of contributors from various branches of the arts, illustrating how influential the place was and how it provided a gathering place for all sorts of misfits, many of whom felt marginalised not just by society but also by the legal framework of the time.
Ironically, in these days of multiple streaming platforms, it is now much easier to see some of these banned and/or rare films in the comfort of one's own home and thus I suspect would undermine the business model for anyone who tried to recreate such a club today. But let's be grateful we had the Scala while it lasted...
This excellent documentary captures many others' reminiscences of the place and the programmes, and features a wide range of contributors from various branches of the arts, illustrating how influential the place was and how it provided a gathering place for all sorts of misfits, many of whom felt marginalised not just by society but also by the legal framework of the time.
Ironically, in these days of multiple streaming platforms, it is now much easier to see some of these banned and/or rare films in the comfort of one's own home and thus I suspect would undermine the business model for anyone who tried to recreate such a club today. But let's be grateful we had the Scala while it lasted...