A Swansea-based mobile cinema is selling what it believes is the earliest surviving autograph of Arnold Schwarzenegger — to help keep its tiny solar-powered theatre on the road.
The Sol Cinema, billed as the world’s smallest solar-powered movie theatre, has put the signed photo up for auction, with bidding due to close on 7 July.
The black-and-white image shows a 20-year-old Schwarzenegger, taken for a bodybuilding magazine in 1967 — the year he won his first Mr Universe title.
The cinema says it is the earliest known example of the future Hollywood star’s signature.
Collectors may be intrigued by one quirk: the star of The Terminator and Conan the Barbarian signed his surname first, followed by “Arnold.”
The award-winning Sol Cinema has spent 16 years touring festivals, community events and the most unlikely of venues, but says rising costs have made it harder to keep going.
“Sol Cinema has supported hundreds of independent video makers for 16 years, but it has become increasingly difficult to find the funds to carry on touring,” said co-founder and projectionist Paul O’Connor.
He said that despite the cinema’s popularity, shrinking event budgets had forced the team to look for new ways to raise money.
“Selling autographs and film memorabilia is one option which we hope people will get behind,” he said.
The Schwarzenegger autograph is not the only treasure in the collection.
The cinema recently performed for the comedy legends of Monty Python, earning praise from Michael Palin and filmmaker Terry Gilliam — and three of the Pythons signed one of their own early books to support its touring fund.
O’Connor, who is from Swansea, said it was fitting that a star of Schwarzenegger’s stature could help keep the independent cinema going, even indirectly.
“The support from Monty Python is also welcomed, as they influenced the construction of the Sol Cinema, with our flying cherubs, doric pillars, plush seating, surround sound and performing usherettes,” he said.
The cinema’s quirky charm has won it famous fans over the years, with the Welsh rugby squad, Suggs and his band Madness, and DJ Don Letts among those to have paid a visit.
In 16 years, the diminutive venue has entertained more than 100,000 people at music and film festivals and community events.
The Sol Cinema began life as a 1972 caravan that was being used to house chickens on a smallholding, before being upcycled with tiered seating, LED lighting, a projector and surround sound — all powered entirely by the sun.
“Sol Cinema has performed in fields, factories, schools, city centres, on a farm and even in a zoo,” said co-founder Jo Furlong.
“Being mobile, we can squeeze into the smallest spots and entertain with short movies. Our smartly dressed ushers are highly experienced street performers who all add a touch of bizarreness to the entire experience.”
The cinema is next due to perform in Blackburn in early July and at Camp Bestival in Dorset in August.
The Schwarzenegger auction runs until 7 July.
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