Caroline Gregory and Chris Simpson perform in The Transceiver for Spirit of Invention 1 at Electro Studios Project Space, May 2024. Photo by Natalia Zagorska-Thomas

Creating Television in the Cinema with John Logie Baird

Two DIY art cinema initiatives in Hastings will mark the anniversary of the invention of television in the town, Spirit of Invention and Exploding Cinema. Jude Montague explains why she wants to celebrate Logie Baird.

In 1924 in Hastings, Logie Baird transmitted the image of a Maltese cross over the distance of 10 feet. His first public demonstration of television was in 1925, in Selfridge’s shop in London, and it wasn’t until January 1926 that he demonstrated the world’s first live working television system – but Hastings is proud to mark the centenary of the first spark of Baird’s world-changing invention.

“When I was a child I thought Yogi Bear invented television.” This is a common misconception that many people still hold. In order to get Logie Baird’s name on the tip of our tongues – and to stop us confusing it with the local Wetherspoons or a vintage cartoon character – Duncan Reekie of Exploding Cinema and multi-media creator Jude Montague are putting on events to allow filmmakers and artists to show short films locally.

The first is in conjunction with PhotoHastings and takes place on Saturday 21 September at the Electric Palace Cinema as the latest manifestation of the Spirit of Invention Festival.

A live performance at the cinema brings to life the amazing story of our local inventor. Short films include works made by and also in association with Willy Stax, Morokoth Fournier, Louise Whitham, Calum F. Kerr, Rod Morris, Haymanot Tesfa, Sarah Pager, Caroline Gregory, Neale Willis, Julia Maddison, Chris Simpson, Gianluca Bonomo, Philip Sanderson and many more.

Jude Montague has been studying the life of John Logie Baird. “His story is such an inspiration for me – his mantra ‘I must invent something’ encapsulates a drive that carried him forward throughout his life. He wasn’t very well, often suffering from colds, struggling with a lack of social self-confidence that I can totally identify with. He found himself an outsider due to his personality, but he was really driven by this urge to invent.”

Duncan Reekie of Exploding Cinema also talks about his fascination with the inventor. “Logie Baird was so ahead of his time that he kept inventing devices that needed components which had not yet been invented so he was forced to adapt existing components like scissors, darning needles and sealing wax. And that’s kind of like what we did with the Exploding Cinema, we invented YouTube before the internet…”

The Exploding Cinema is a non-profit volunteer screening collective that emerged
from the underground art squat scene in 1991. We organise regular open access screening nights of short film, underground cinema, artists moving image and performance art.

Anyone can show a film – anyone can join the collective. Over the last 30 years Exploding Cinema has screened thousands of no-budget films/videos in squats, pubs, clubs, cafes and church halls. It has staged one-off shows in disused factories,
office blocks, a circus tent and in the deep end of a squatted Lido. And now we are delighted to be the guests of the Beacon, a hidden pleasure garden perched high on the West Hill.

Spirit of Invention Television: Sat 21 September at Electric Palace Cinema, 39A High St, Hastings TN34 3ER

Exploding Cinema: Friday 18 October at The Beacon, 67-68 St Mary’s Terrace,, Hastings TN34 3LS

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