How a giant glass pyramid saved UK cinema

The Point opened to excited cinemagoers in November 1985, but now faces demolition

In the centre of the shopping metropolis of Milton Keynes stands a mirrored glass pyramid that changed the face of UK cinema. Forty years since opening, the dilapidated building faces demolition despite campaigns to save it - but what is its legacy?

The Point signalled an exciting new era in the UK entertainment industry, bringing American-style moviegoing to the masses at a time when audiences were at their lowest.

Opening on 23 November 1985, visitors to the 10-screen cinema could pay as little as 95p for a ticket and were introduced to fresh salted popcorn, nachos and hot dogs for the first time.

Once the tallest building in the city, it showed its last film in 2015 and had also been used as a bingo hall, nightclub and brasserie.

In 1946, UK annual cinema admissions peaked at 1.63 billion, but by 1984, they had dropped to 54 million, according to the UK Cinema Association.

It was about this time that AMC Entertainment's Stanley Durwood, who had pioneered the multiplex in the 1960s to lure American cinema-goers back from television, handpicked a team to bring the concept to Britain.

Among them was managing director Charles Wesoky, who researched why UK cinemas were failing while Americans were visiting three times a year.

He told the BBC: "The cinemas were not well taken care of or managed. Most of them were pretty dirty. The presentation on the screens was bad."

Millard Ochs and Charles J Wesoky both moved to the UK to work on The Point in Milton Keynes in the 1980s

Mr Wesoky recalled that media tycoon Lew Grade had been "instrumental" in convincing AMC to expand to the UK, alongside actor and director Richard Attenborough.

Millard Ochs, AMC's then director of operations, moved from Phoenix, Arizona, to Milton Keynes in 1984.

He said: "The mood about going to theatres was not a great picture, because everybody thought they were flea pits and dirty and not kept up.

"That was the reason for the investment and for starting over again, basically... We needed something new and different."

Both Millard (left) and Charles (right) continued working in the industry across their careers, opening cinemas around the world

Although a couple of UK cinemas had experimented with multiple screens, attendance was still declining.

Mr Ochs said The Point, with its 10-screen set-up, was designed to deliver "a pure American experience".

US-style snacks were introduced, such as nachos, hot dogs and a wider selection of drinks.

There was further novelty as The Point stocked freshly popped salted popcorn, whereas UK theatres usually sold sweets.

The first person to buy a ticket at The Point (left) was captured in a photo

Mr Wesoky recalled: "Stanley Durwood was there for the first week, watching what was going on, assessing whether it was going to work or not.

"One of the young lads at Milton Keynes went to the concession stand, got his popcorn... Went over to the condiment counter and put some ketchup on top of the popcorn.

"Stanley walked over to him and said, 'I've been in business a long time and I've never seen anybody put ketchup on the popcorn, why are you doing that?'

"He says, 'I've been here and watched two other movies already and all my friends keep on eating my popcorn - I'm not going to let them do that any more'."

The Point introduced film lovers to salted popcorn in the cinema

The building itself was designed by a team of architects led by Kansas-native Charles 'Jim' Balderson.

Mr Wesoky recalled: "They came up with the idea of the pyramid lit up, so that you could see it from the major highway going both north and south.

"We just felt that we could not build just a normal-looking cinema building or entertainment centre that was a block. We had to have something special."

Seating was sloped to provide the best possible view of the screen. Chairs had built-in cup holders, and a smoking ban was introduced from day one.

Before construction began, a man knocked on Mr Ochs' front door. He was offering a VHS movie rental service from his car boot, at the price of £1.50.

He recalled: "So I learnt about the £1.50 price point... That helps me understand what we should charge at the ticket price. My competitor is the guy that's delivering videos."

The highest ticket price on opening day was set at £1.95, with less popular time periods between 16:00 and 18:00 discounted to 95p.

The team involved with The Point attended the opening, including architect Charles Balderson (right)

Early on in construction, cinema executives from around the world visited to see what was being built.

Mr Wesoky recalled: "The Point was the stepping stone of everything that happened - not only in the UK, but going forward for the international market in the cinema development of multiplexes."

Some were doubtful of success. A head of a major competitor told him The Point would never meet objectives and the company would go bankrupt.

A builder made a £5 wager with Mr Ochs that they would never fill the 2,000 seats he had just installed.

At the time, the highest attendance record in a year was 500,000, at a cinema in Leicester Square. AMC set a goal of 720,000.

Within the first year, the target was exceeded, with admissions hitting 1,064,000.

Mr Ochs said: "On the first Saturday of the first week at the 20:00 hour, all 2,000 seats were full. I still have the £5 note and it's framed, to remind myself that sometimes things work."

After The Point opened, and other multiplexes were built, cinema attendances started to rise each year before peaking at 179 million in 2019, just before the Covid pandemic.

Charles J. Wesoky (middle) said media tycoon Lew Grade was "instrumental" in introducing multiplex cinemas to the UK

Today, The Point is set to be demolished to make room for four blocks of flats.

Developer Galliard Homes said celebrating the legacy of The Point was at "the heart of the proposals".

Milton Keynes City Council previously rejected plans to replace the former cinema, listing seven reasons for refusal, which was then reduced to two.

Councillors were concerned that the building did not deliver an acceptable level of affordable housing. Other concerns related to its status as a non-designated heritage asset and the potential effect on the nearby Grade II listed shopping centre.

However, when the building was assessed for listed status, Historic England said it fell short of the criteria for listing in February 2021 and was instead given a Certificate of Immunity, due to expire on 14 March 2026.

Ryan Gillies says you knew you were "home" when The Point was lit up at night

For years, campaigners have been lobbying in hopes of retaining the building and saving it from demolition.

Ryan Gillies had his first cinema experience watching Jurassic Park at The Point and has fond memories of visiting it to grab a "cheeky popcorn".

He cannot imagine the city "without it" and said: "It's intertwined with so much of what it means to be an MK resident.

"One of the most oft-quoted memories people share is when you're driving home as a child at night and you see that red glow on the horizon, you knew you were nearly home."

Both Mr Ochs and Mr Wesoky have called for a plaque or sculpture to mark the history of the site.

Mr Ochs said: "It should be on the ground where people can see it. Something that says, this is the location of the first purpose-built multiplex cinema selling salted popcorn. Maybe some old photographs on a wall someplace in the building."

Mr Wesoky added: "It was the place where everything started for the regeneration of cinema - not only in the UK, but internationally - Europe, Asia, Australia, South America.

"Over about a 10 or 15-year period, the increase in cinema attendance worldwide became phenomenal through the building programme of newer and better cinemas. Milton Keynes' The Point was definitely the centrepiece."