Peter Howden obituary

"Peter's period at the Everyman (then, like the man himself, a stand-alone independent) lasted from 1981 to 1998, during which time he refined the alchemic art of the double-and-triple-bill, often adding in midnight screenings and Q&A sessions. He lived in a flat above the auditorium with his cats, and as well as being the cinema's programmer was its sometime projectionist, accountant and manager."

"Peter was born in York, amd his father worked in the local Rowntrees factory. After gaining a history degree at Sussex University, where he was a leading member of the student film society, his first job was as an administrator with Contemporary Films, an independent distributor specialising in foreign arthouse movies. In his spare time he also worked as a projectionist-for-hire, showing horse races on 16mm in private apartments for rich people to gamble on."

Peter Howden died aged 80. He worked as a programmer at independent London cinemas, notably the Everyman in Hampstead (1981–1998) and the Rio in Dalston. His programming began at the Electric cinema in Notting Hill in the late 1960s and influenced other repertory venues such as the Ritzy and the Scala. At the Everyman he refined the art of the double-and-triple-bill, often adding midnight screenings and Q&A sessions. He lived above the auditorium with his cats and served as projectionist, accountant and manager. From 1999 he was chief programmer and projectionist at the Rio and trained others. He was born in York, studied history at Sussex University, and worked for Contemporary Films and as a projectionist-for-hire.

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