Albert Kelly: Albert Kelly, who has died aged 80, was a champion of independent cinema during the 1970s and 1980s. He was the owner of the Classic cinema in Harold's Cross, Dublin, which broke all Irish cinema records by running The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Friday night for over 21 years. The Friday evening showings gained a cult following, with many in the audience singing and joining in the fun.
Born in Dublin, Albert lived most of his life at Kenilworth Square, Rathgar, with his sister, Rita, and her husband, Dave McCall, just around the corner from his beloved cinema. Passionate about cinema from an early age, in his teens he used to show short comic films in his back garden, with Rita acting as ticket seller and usherette.
In pre-television Ireland, he took the initiative to start filming local football matches which he showed in community halls. He worked as a projectionist in a number of cinemas before going to work for Sundrive Cinemas Ltd, the owners of three suburban cinemas.
He became manager of the Classic in Terenure and when Sundrive decided to close its cinemas in 1976, he took over the Kenilworth which he renamed the Classic. It was there that he started Ireland's first midnight movie screenings and ran Richard O'Brien's cult film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show for 21 years.
Shortly after taking over the Classic, he joined the Independent Cinemas Association to fight the "barring order" which gave the large urban cinemas three months exclusivity on the big commercial movies. He brought their case to the Restrictive Practice Board and eventually managed to get equal terms for the smaller companies.
In the 1980s, he led a deputation to government which succeeded in having VAT on cinema tickets reduced to 12.5 per cent.
Over the years he travelled to all of the major international cinema trade shows and conventions, from Las Vegas to Cannes.
Vice-president and general manager of Buena Vista International Ireland Brendan McCaul remembered him as a man held in high regard in the industry for his "absolute and total integrity" in all his dealings. "As chair of the Independent Cinemas Association, Albert took it upon himself to go on deputations to anyone who was willing to listen to him on behalf of his members."
He travelled around the country helping others who wanted to set up cinemas, not for any reward but simply for his love of cinema which he wanted to share with as many people as possible. His love affair with Dingle began when he helped Michael O'Sullivan to open a cinema there and he returned many times over the years.
A true gentleman with an enormous heart, he spent his life quietly helping others without any wish for recognition or reward. He was heavily involved in the Cinema Benevolent Fund, giving up his time and often his resources to look after people in the industry who had fallen on hard times.
He brought his family and those who worked for him around the world on trips. Rita always put on extra food when she was cooking dinner because she never knew who or how many Albert might bring home with him.
Although he never married, Albert was like a second father to Rita's children, Garrett and Reenagh, and like a grandfather to their children, who referred to him affectionately as Alby. They all adored the soft-spoken man with the big hearty laugh, who gave so much to others all through his life.
When he was in his health, Albert loved flying gliders and mountain climbing. A wise and well-read man, he loved socialising and engaging in intelligent conversation. Always the last person to leave a party, he claimed that any more than three hours sleep a night was a waste.
During his years in the cinema, he worked until 2am seven nights a week before returning home to read the newspapers and catch up on the day's news. He retired reluctantly in 2003 at the age of 78. when his doctor ordered him to stop working a seven-day week.
"My doctor told me I had to stop doing a seven-days-a- week job," he said. "I like the film business too much to give it up for any other reason."
Albert is survived by his sister, Rita, and her husband; his nephew and niece, other relatives and friends.
Albert Kelly: born August 15th, 1924; died July 6th, 2005