Situated downstairs in the Museum, along with old posters from the Palace Cinema, sits this old projector. It’s probably about 100 years old.

The source of light was an arc lamp, similar technology was employed in WW2 spotlights. More information can be found on the projector itself.

You’ll notice it has an apparatus for slides, that moves in and out. The projector was used to show slides during the intermission at the cinema. Local businesses could advertise products or services.

What makes this very interesting to me is that my Father did a lot of work for the cinema in the ‘60s & ‘70s and I helped him on occasion. My interest in cinema technology grew and I witnessed the changeover from arc lamps to the new German projector lamps. The two slides shown here were discovered in a house move. One shows Witney Feast in about 1908.

The other slide was a revelation to me, it shows my Father as the Dame in a Witney Dramatic Society Pantomime, sometime in the ‘50s. The WDS celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2026, so this slide is very relevant.

Do come and visit Witney Museum and see the projector and many other fascinating aspects of Witney’s long history.

By Martyn Miles, Volunteer