The People's Entertainment Society

The society was founded in 1941 by Alfred John Barnes (1887-1974). Barnes was a Labour Co-operative politician, and became the Co-operative Party founder and Chairman, director of the Co-operative Publishing Company and Chairman of the London Co-operative Society as well as holding other ministerial positions in government.

He established the People’s Entertainment Society in 1941 and it continued to run through the Second World War up until the mid-1950s; by 1961 it had discontinued its activities as it is not mentioned in the 1961 Co-operative directory. The Society was based in London, at Pioneer House, 352 Gray’s Inn Road. Shares could be attained from £1 up to £200. In its first annual report, December 5th 1942, it reported a capital of £10,907, and £233,693 in the 1954 Annual Report. In the first Annual Report of 1942, 76 individual members are recorded. Towards the end of its run, it is registered in the 1951 Co-Operative directory as having 762 members at the time.

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