Pembroke and Monkton Local History Society is pleased to announce the launch of their second major book ‘From Mummer’s Booth to Silver Screen: the Life and Times of the Haggar Family’ by Vicki Haggar.

“I was born into a very remarkable family, a family which has its roots in the Victorian theatre and early cinema” writes Vicki in her introduction.

“My father was Len Haggar, the well-known and respected proprietor of Haggars’ Cinema and Ballroom in Pembroke and it is there that my earliest memories lie. Alas it is assigned to history: times change and there is no ‘going to the pictures’ any more in Pembroke. For my family in particular, this represented the end of an era as our history stretches back to the very earliest years of the cinema in this country; a history which began with my great grandfather William Haggar, a leading figure in early film making in this country.”

Vicki’s book begins with William Haggar Senior, tracing his remarkable career from travelling player to proprietor of travelling cinemas or bioscopes. In 1901, he made his first film and by 1918 he had made 60 films which were distributed by the Gaumont Company throughout Europe and America. He was a true pioneer and one of the founding fathers of the cinema industry. His large family were all involved in the business and were stars of his films, some of which were shot in Pembrokeshire. Haggar’s travelling cinema or bioscope was a regular feature in Pembroke Fair until William opened his chain of permanent family run cinemas.

The book focuses on one Haggar cinema, established by Will Haggar Jnr and his wife Jenny Lindon in Pembroke in 1931. They were succeeded by Vicki’s grandfather Walter, famous as the villain in the film ‘The Life and Death of Charles Peace’ which was shot in Pembroke Dock in 1904 and is the oldest extant British story film.  In January 1939, her father Len Haggar took over and created a small, but modern cinema in the town.

The book follows the fortunes of the Haggar family through four successive generations and draws on previously unpublished essays written by her grandfather Walter and brothers Roy and Tony. It spans a century in the entertainment business; from Victorian travelling theatre to fairground bioscope, through cinema’s golden age to eventual decline and the closing of Pembroke Cinema, the last of the Haggar Cinemas, in 1984.

For many, this will be a nostalgic walk down memory lane and a must read for anyone interested in the history of cinema in this country.

The book launch will take place on Friday, November 18, at Pembroke Town Hall, 7 pm. As a special feature, the launch will be followed by the film, ‘A Penny for Your Dreams’; a film biography of William Haggar by kind permission of BBC Wales. The film runs from 8-9.30 pm. This is a free event and all are welcome.

Following the success of the History Society’s first book (with accompanying DVD) ‘Through My Eyes: a Community History of Pembroke and Monkton,’ it was decided to invest proceeds from its sale into a fund to finance future publications. This is the first of these to be published and proceeds from its sale will replenish the fund for our next book of local interest.