The Watford Observer is again delighted to be teaming up with its friends at Watford Museum to take another journey back to the past to recall the key events and dates that helped shape the town’s future.

The 18th part of '50 events and dates that shaped Watford' looks back to when the first full-length talkie was shown in the town at the Plaza Cinema.

The museum's volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: "The Plaza Cinema, was opened on April 29, 1929 by the Mayor of Watford F J B Hemming. The entertainment that followed the opening began with a piece of organ music played by the resident organist. Next came a film called Hot News and a piece of music called Plaza Melody was played by the Plaza Orchestra. The main picture was Tommy Atkins. At this stage all the films were silent.

"The first talking picture shown at the cinema was Al Jolson's The Singing Fool. The first performance was on July 8, 1929 and was probably the first time that the full-length talkie was shown in Watford.

"The cinema changed hands in 1936 to become the Odeon, Sunday concerts were introduced later that year and the projection equipment was updated. The cinema finally closed in November 1963."

Watford Museum is closed for the festive period and will reopen at 10am on Thursday, January 6.