Our local cinema was "The Forum" at Southey Green.(Now a Tesco Supermarket).All us school kids were only allowed to go on Friday nights(being no school the next morning) and on Saturday morning for the "Kids" cinema. Only the posh people went upstairs in the cinema then.Once inside you stared at the red velvet draped curtains,waiting for the film to start.Hollywood films were the favourites with "Gone with The Wind""The Third Man" "On The Town"and "Singing in the Rain".If the film broke down in the middle,everyone booed, and stamped their feet.And if anyone kissed in the film there were woolf whistles.At the interval those lovely ice cream ladies with the trays loaded with ice cream tubs and wafers,stepped briskly down the stairs and stood at the bottom in front of the screen.When the film was over,we ran out of the cinema,either riding an imaginary horse(if it had been a Western)or singing if it had been a musical.

How well I remember those days- Saturday mornings were terrific but if memory serves me (which isn't so often nowadays)
they used to have travelogues which were so boring we'd start clapping or playing up. Lads threw orange peel or apple cores too on occasion. Do you remember the Ritz also which was on Deerlands Ave or close by?

If it got too rowdy, they'd sometimes stop the film briefly.

The manager would come on stage in his suit and dickie bow and proceed to make all kinds of empty threats about what would happen if the kids didn't settle down and stop the noise.

A bit like the mods here, come to think of it ;)

Saturday morning cinema was terrific. Me and my two sisters all had plaits,and the boys would sit behind us and pull them.Roy Rodgers was everyones favourite,but we didnt like cowboys snogging,and everyone would boo.Can anyone remember "The Three Stooges"? One of their names was Mo,but cant remember the other ones names.

Originally posted by pattricia
Saturday morning cinema was terrific. Me and my two sisters all had plaits,and the boys would sit behind us and pull them.Roy Rodgers was everyones favourite,but we didnt like cowboys snogging,and everyone would boo.Can anyone remember "The Three Stooges"? One of their names was Mo,but cant remember the other ones names.

Harry and Larry i think !

Originally posted by poppins
Harry and Larry i think !

Curly, Larry and Mo.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by saxon51
Curly, Larry and Mo.:thumbsup:

Oh! yes saxon.....as soon as i posted i remembered, thanks :thumbsup:

Errr,,,takes one to know one anyhow :heyhey:

Yes I remember the Forum. When there was nowt we fancied on the Ritz (which was on Wordsworth ave by the way) We used to treck up Southey hill ,and on Moonshine lane to get there .Or up to the Esseldo lane top,or down to hillsbro.Used to get the Star, look inside the front page for where to go.So many to pick from. It kept us fit ,We walked miles there and back...So we could get a bag of chips on the way back. :D
Abbot and costello,Three stooges,Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis,some of the favourites.

Yea, you're right Burntoast -Wordsworth Ave it was- we didn't go there much mostly the Forum. I remember Hopalong Cassidy & Gene Autry and there was always a serialof some sort- so you just had to go back the following week. By fair means or foul.

We used to go to the Roxy, think it was on Herries Rd, not sure, was down that way anyway. Remember going to see Kid for 2 farthings and we were all given a little brown envelope with 2 farthings in. Strange what you remember isnt it. Cant remember what I did 10 mins ago these days.

Originally posted by saxon51
Curly, Larry and Mo.:thumbsup:

Curly was replaced by Shemp due to illness.Shemp, in turn, was replaced by Joe when he died. Curly Joe then replaced Joe because Joe didn't want to travel. Nyuk ! Nyuk ! Nyuk !

Pragon (Firthpark) and lane top lad myself. Nanrobbo mentioned Hopalong Cassidy Try this, What was the name of Hopalong Cassidys side kicks horse??

Anyone remember "Flash Gordon " ? He was really good looking with blonde wavy hair,and big muscles.What was the name of the villain ? He seemed to sit on a throne and have big bushy eyebrows, and pointed ears ?

Originally posted by pattricia
Anyone remember "Flash Gordon " ? He was really good looking with blonde wavy hair,and big muscles.What was the name of the villain ? He seemed to sit on a throne and have big bushy eyebrows, and pointed ears ?

Yes I do, his real name was Buster Crab, i think the villain was Emperer Ming.

Originally posted by poppins
Yes I do, his real name was Buster Crab, i think the villain was Emperer Ming. Yes, thats right Flash Gordon was Buster Crab , and yes its was Emperor Ming(I think) They always seemed to be in stone caves ,with strange creatures emerging from them.I wonder if Buster Crab played any ordinary parts, apart from Flash Gordon ?

Was Hoppalong's horse called Topper?

I rmember a film called A Boy With Green Hair. Must have been about 1950 ish. He was ostracised because he was different.
Any one remember?

Originally posted by peterdo
Was Hoppalong's horse called Topper?

I rmember a film called A Boy With Green Hair. Must have been about 1950 ish. He was ostracised because he was different.
Any one remember?

Peterdo.... Don't think Topper was thehorses name, i'll find out when my husband gets back, he knows all that stuff !

Originally posted by poppins
Peterdo.... Don't think Topper was thehorses name, i'll find out when my husband gets back, he knows all that stuff !
William "Bill"Boyds range mount during his Hopalong Cassidy days at Paramount, United Artists and his own TV series was named TOPPER.
The story is that Boyds wife, Grace Bradley Boyd selected the horses name because she liked the TOPPER books (or films) that were authored by Thorne Smith.

:cool:
I n the early 50's there were queues at every cinema in town (I mean the centre of Sheffield!) on Saturday and sunday evenings. I seem to remember that the Sunday film was a filler, not the main film shown for the rest of the week.

The Gaumont in Barkers Pool (previously the Regent) was the most glamorous for decor. Across the road was the Cinema House, and nearby was the Hippodrome (an old theatre with an opening roof), and the Palace in Union Street which was Sheffield's oldest cinema.
There was the News Theatre in Fitzalan Square . Later on the Odeon opened, its skeleton steelwork had stood throughout the war, waiting patiently for attention. Later still the short-lived ABC was built - and knocked down !

Elsewhere, I thought the Rex at Intake was a beautiful cinema. My "locals" were the Coliseum (Spital Hill), the Don (West Bar), the Wicker in its innocent days, and any cinema within a tram-ride (which meant many more options).

was the horses name pancho?or was that hoppys mates name?

Originally posted by blitzkid
:cool:
I n the early 50's there were queues at every cinema in town (I mean the centre of Sheffield!) on Saturday and sunday evenings. I seem to remember that the Sunday film was a filler, not the main film shown for the rest of the week.

The Gaumont in Barkers Pool (previously the Regent) was the most glamorous for decor. Across the road was the Cinema House, and nearby was the Hippodrome (an old theatre with an opening roof), and the Palace in Union Street which was Sheffield's oldest cinema.
There was the News Theatre in Fitzalan Square . Later on the Odeon opened, its skeleton steelwork had stood throughout the war, waiting patiently for attention. Later still the short-lived ABC was built - and knocked down !

Elsewhere, I thought the Rex at Intake was a beautiful cinema. My "locals" were the Coliseum (Spital Hill), the Don (West Bar), the Wicker in its innocent days, and any cinema within a tram-ride (which meant many more options). Ah,yes the News Theatre ,can remember that.Did they show only news ?Would be like News 24 on the t.v.now,but not as much up to date.

Pancho Gonzales was the sidekick of the Cisco Kid. As they rode off into the sunset at the end of each show, they would yell at each other..... Oh, Cisco, then the reply Oh, Pancho.

Never to be forgotten

I'm really groping in the recesses of memory now but do you remember one of the long running serials they had I think it was something along the lines of 'The Perils of Pauline'. (at The Forum) with a girl being tied to the rail tracks etc?
Was it Gene Autrey who had Gabby Hayes as a sidekick? Loved Gabby Hayes he was such a funny chap.

Originally posted by jmdee
Pancho Gonzales was the sidekick of the Cisco Kid. As they rode off into the sunset at the end of each show, they would yell at each other..... Oh, Cisco, then the reply Oh, Pancho.


Sounds a bit gay! ;)

Originally posted by nanrobbo
I'm really groping in the recesses of memory now but do you remember one of the long running serials they had I think it was something along the lines of 'The Perils of Pauline'. (at The Forum) with a girl being tied to the rail tracks etc?
Was it Gene Autrey who had Gabby Hayes as a sidekick? Loved Gabby Hayes he was such a funny chap.

Think you'll find it was Roy Rogers side kick.They made 41 films together, Yes he was one of the best. Try www.surfnetinc.com/chuck/pals-gh.htm You may find it interesting:thumbsup:

Originally posted by burnttoast
Think you'll find it was Roy Rogers side kick.They made 41 films together, Yes he was one of the best. Try www.surfnetinc.com/chuck/pals-gh.htm You may find it interesting:thumbsup: I think I can remember Roy Rodgers real wife was called "Gail"Didnt she used to play in some of his films ?What was the cowboy who used to wear a mask?

Roy Rogers wife was Dale Evans yes she acted in many of his films and shows .The masked man was the Lone Ranger played by Clayton Moore.His side kick was" Tonto "played by Jay Silverheels..horse" Silver" played by Janet street porter.:hihi::thumbsup:

Nah Burntoast doesn't sound right "Hey ho Janet Street Porter":hihi:

Be careful-----the horses might sue for slander !
The News Theatre [at least from the early '50's onwards ] used to show a real mixture of things , including a longer news section than you'd see in the normal cinema . I remember seeing plenty of dramatic action from the Korean war [1950-53].
There were also cartoons , short feature films ----of the Laurel and Hardy type ----bits of everything . Another advantage , was , for example ,in the school holidays , you could stay in as long as you liked as it was a continuous show .
There were about 50 cinemas in Sheffield in the '50's and as other posters have pointed out , about 5 or 6 in the City Centre . I should think every suburb had one or two . The two I remember best ,outside the centre , were the Rex , at Intake and the Star on Ecclesall Road. Our favourite in town , as little kids , was the Hippodrome because in , 'The Gods ' , [wooden benches !] , you could get in for 10 old pence or about 4 new pence and if it was an 'A' film , you could usually get a , "Teddy Boy " to pretend he was your big brother to take you in . We thought we were really tough at the age of nine , with our luminous socks , Teddy Boy " escorts " and watching ,'A' films !

The Sunbeam at Firvale, The Roxy was at page hall on Idsworth Road, there was a cinema we all called the "Bug - Hut" going towards Upwell Street any ideas?:help: one or two serials spring to mind:- Nyoka girl of the jungle, Rocketman, Superman, and of course Tarzan. All of this plus a nice JUBBLY,
we could also get fishcake & chips for 6d.

Originally posted by bits
The Sunbeam at Firvale, The Roxy was at page hall on Idsworth Road, there was a cinema we all called the "Bug - Hut" going towards Upwell Street any ideas?:help: one or two serials spring to mind:- Nyoka girl of the jungle, Rocketman, Superman, and of course Tarzan. All of this plus a nice JUBBLY,
we could also get fishcake & chips for 6d.
Was it the Victory.....just after the aquaduct, coming from Brightside on the right hand side.......???

Spot on joanl, thanks for that. sounds like you went a few times or did you live nearby, anyway I think that it was inevitable that these cinemas had to go.

To be honest I only ever went once when I was very young to see a Jekyll and Hyde film. Somehow some older cousin got me in and I was petrified all the way through it. I always remembered it though when we went past in later years.
Glad I was right. I know how it is when there is something that is not important but just really buggs when you can't remember....often happens to me.:hihi:

Originally posted by burnttoast
Roy Rogers wife was Dale Evans yes she acted in many of his films and shows .The masked man was the Lone Ranger played by Clayton Moore.His side kick was" Tonto "played by Jay Silverheels..horse" Silver" played by Janet street porter.:hihi::thumbsup: Ah, yes Dale Evans not Gale. Can you remember The Marx Brothers names ? They were so funny .One film was called Duck Soup, I think.In one film Groucho(I think) was looking in a mirror, and doing all sorts of hand and foot movements.Of course theve all been on the telly, but it doesnt seem the same does it?

What a load of fantastic memories, the Paragon at Firth Park was our local, with visits at a later age to the Capitol at Lane Top (which became The Essoldo), Saturday afternoon matinees were our favorite, but they always ended at the exciting bit with "to be continued next week", a good way of making sure of next weeks audience.
The Paragon used to have a regular doorman in uniform who was "a little slow" to put it kindly, but he used to organise us kids pretty well.
Roy Rogers was a definate favourite, and at Christmas I used to look forward to the Roy Rogers annual.

Buster Crabbe also played Tarzan for a while, either before Johnny Weissmuller or after — can’t remember which

A gang of us from Pitsmoor always made the trip to the Forum on Saturdays. I loved it, I mean all those cowboy stars were almost cult figures among us kids back then. Even serious writers like V.S.Naipaul have stated, and I quote,' I don't think I overstate when I say that without the Hollywood of the 1930s and 1940s I would have been spiritually quite destitute'.I dont know about you folks but there was an awful lot of ideas and ideals went into, what I laughingly call 'my brain' from the cinema. Anybody remember Harry Carey, another cowboy star, or Tex Ritter, remembered more now for his background singing in the film' High Noon'.
I'll bet somebody besides myself remembers the mounted dog head that snarled and waggled it's ears in all the haunted house movies featuring the ' Three Stooges' and Andy Clyde.
And the 'Claymen' in the Flash Gordon serials, appearing from nowhere out of the walls.
And all those short films at the News Theatre, I remember one about ten pin bowling which showed how to get a 'strike' every time, this was before ten pin bowling had even got to Britain, when it did, I cleaned up. See, educational.
What about Joe McDoakes, I've got a mounted 8 ball in memory of him. I have to get behind it myself sometimes.
All those great tap dancing films with the Nicholas Brothers and Buck and Bubbles, and the music, short films featuring the great bands of the day. Great days.

Texas I can't remember any of those films but the Three Stooges you must have a better memory than me.
My way back memories are of ? Pete Smith whos do DIY always went wrong and Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey.
I never went to the saturday serials my Dad said they were full of rough boys !!!!!!!!

hazel

Great memories ..Bringing it all back now ..Remember the cowboys.? Goodies chasing the baddies,when the goodies were getting on top the noise was incredible. All the kids stood on the seats jumping up and down recconing to be riding horses and shooting imaginary guns. And when the baddies were winning all the boos rang out and allsorts of stuff thrown at the screen.[ And we call young uns today hooligans] But it was all great fun..I used to like the Bowery Boys, thought they were hilarious.But saw a clip from one of their films recently and could'nt understand why. Must be getting owd. Yes great memories. Keep em comming.

Originally posted by nanrobbo
I'm really groping in the recesses of memory now but do you remember one of the long running serials they had I think it was something along the lines of 'The Perils of Pauline'. (at The Forum) with a girl being tied to the rail tracks etc?
Was it Gene Autrey who had Gabby Hayes as a sidekick? Loved Gabby Hayes he was such a funny chap.

Gabby Hayes was Gene Autrey's sidekick, his horse was Champion. Roy Rogers sidekick was Froggy; horse trigger.
l used to enjoy Zorro and Our gang.

Originally posted by KIWI
Gabby Hayes was Gene Autrey's sidekick, his horse was Champion. Roy Rogers sidekick was Froggy; horse trigger.
l used to enjoy Zorro and Our gang.

He was also Hoppalong Cassidy's side kick on a few ocasions.Try this www.surfnetinc.com/chuck/pals-gh.htm :thumbsup: I think you will find Smiley Burnett was Gene's sidekick:thumbsup:

That's one I'd forgotten Hazel, the Pete Smith specialities, always funny though. Featured a heavy set guy always trying, as you say, DIY jobs. I'll bet somebody remembers the Howard Hill short films. He was a hotshot with a bow and arrow, did all the fancy tricks and stuff.
What about the other comedy films featuring the likes of Leon Errol, and Edgar Kennedy, with that scatty wife and obnoxious brother in law? And all the older silent films, still a privilege to see. I remember one time, getting into the News Theater in the morning,(it used to open at ten or eleven o'clock) seeing the show, then going to see the show at the Gaumont in the afternoon, then seeing Danny Kaye in'Wonder Man' at the Cinema after that. Lord knows where I got the money but that's what I did, and they talk about square eyed T.V.viewers.
So who remembers Abbot and Costello?

Originally posted by Texas
That's one I'd forgotten Hazel, the Pete Smith specialities, always funny though. Featured a heavy set guy always trying, as you say, DIY jobs. I'll bet somebody remembers the Howard Hill short films. He was a hotshot with a bow and arrow, did all the fancy tricks and stuff.
What about the other comedy films featuring the likes of Leon Errol, and Edgar Kennedy, with that scatty wife and obnoxious brother in law? And all the older silent films, still a privilege to see. I remember one time, getting into the News Theater in the morning,(it used to open at ten or eleven o'clock) seeing the show, then going to see the show at the Gaumont in the afternoon, then seeing Danny Kaye in'Wonder Man' at the Cinema after that. Lord knows where I got the money but that's what I did, and they talk about square eyed T.V.viewers.
So who remembers Abbot and Costello? Abbot and Costello meat the Ghosts ? Was that one ? Cant beat Laurel & Hardy though . They always had a plank of wood,which the fat one swung round to hit the thin one,who then scratched his head,and looked round to see who had done it.

Can anyone remember a bad accident in the 50's, When a crowd of people were coming out of the "Capitol" on a Saturday night and were walking down the hill towards Ecclesfield and a car lost controll and drove into the crowd, I believe a few were killed.

Abbot and Costello did all the " Roads to----"
I remember Road to Morroco but I'm sure there were others.
Carman Miranda usually played with them, but I think Dorothy Malone ? was in Rd to M.
One of the first Picture houses I went to was the Cinema House in Barkers Pool. saw " The Stage Door Canteen."

hazel

This is going to be a long one... forgive me.

Even though we were dead poor, somehow Mum managed to find the loot to get us to the pictures a couple of times a week.

We lived in Tillotson Rd, Heeley, which put us within striking distance of the Heeley Palace, the Heeley Green and the Heeley Coluseum.

There was another one across the River Sheaf and past the dark factories. Can't remember the name of that cinema, but you'll know, because during the Davey Crockett craze, Fess Parker came in person and sang on stage with his guitar.

I'll never forget that night. Most of the kids had 'coonskin hats cut from some old dead relative's fur coat. I was dead lucky because my big sister had sent me one made out of a possum, from her new home in Australia. We trashed the joint, long before the Beatles phenomenon had been invented. Fess Parker, where are you now?

------

It cost 4 1/2d for me and 9d for my Mum, if memory serves. I remember the usherette with the torch (as if we were Royalty) and the constant haze of cigarette smoke.

Then the lights would dim, and as a glass and a half of full cream milk got miraculously poured into a block of Cadbury chocolate, Winifred Atwell (bless her) would play the Black and White Rag.

Then the news (Comet's first flight, conquest of Everest, and always something about the Royal Family), then a cartoon and an episode of the Three Stooges.... I remember them all.

I saw The Africa Queen, The Third Man, Battle of the River Plate, Genevieve... God only knows how many ... I can't see them without thinking of those days with my mum and how she must have plundered the budget.

Sometimes, we saw films that scraped in just under the "X" rating. I remember The Curse of the Pharaoes, which scared me so much that I peed myself and had to walk all the way home splay-legged in the middle of a Sheffield winter.

...spare a thought for the cleaning lady.

They were grand days though.

Originally posted by hazel
Abbot and Costello did all the " Roads to----"
I remember Road to Morroco but I'm sure there were others.
Carman Miranda usually played with them, but I think Dorothy Malone ? was in Rd to M.
One of the first Picture houses I went to was the Cinema House in Barkers Pool. saw " The Stage Door Canteen."

hazel

Hazel. I think that you will find that it was Bing Crosby and Bob Hope who did the "Road to " movies. The Dorothy in Question was Dorothy Lamour. She was known as the sarong girl or something like that.

That's right ch******el, it was Bing Crosby and Bob Hope did the 'Road' movies, and Bud Abbot and Lou Costello did a lot of films with the titles 'Bud Abbot and Lou Costello Meet the Zombies' or something like that. On the question of cowboy sidekicks, I seem to remember Andy Devine being in a lot of Westerns, but I cant remember who he was sidekick to. He was the one with the high gargling voice, I could swear it was Roy Rogers but I wouldn't bet money on it. Always looked a bit Chinese did our Roy.

We lived just above the Capitol on Barnsley Road in the 40's and 50's and my mother and I used to go twice a week (the programme changed midweek). Saw some good films, and some bad. Chip shop behind. Memories of the first appearance
of Cinemascope with the dramatic widening of the screen to fanfare. The House of Wax with 3d specs. Saw Dumbo and Wizard of Oz at the Sunbeam in 45-46. On Saturday morning liked Flash Gordon with curiously noisy space ship. The
mismatch between the end of one serial episode and beginning of the next. There was one called The Claw. Hero clearly shot at the end but resurrected miraculously next time.

Originally posted by Texas
That's right ch******el, it was Bing Crosby and Bob Hope did the 'Road' movies, and Bud Abbot and Lou Costello did a lot of films with the titles 'Bud Abbot and Lou Costello Meet the Zombies' or something like that. On the question of cowboy sidekicks, I seem to remember Andy Devine being in a lot of Westerns, but I cant remember who he was sidekick to. He was the one with the high gargling voice, I could swear it was Roy Rogers but I wouldn't bet money on it. Always looked a bit Chinese did our Roy.
Andy worked on a few of Roys films in the late 40s as Cookie Bullfincher. He made 57 western altogether. He did 157 fims altogether. Try the site I posted earlier .Some good memories there.:)

Thanks for puting me right, . of course it was Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
I feel so stupid, Put it down to my great age and memory going..

hazel

I see there's another version of 'Zorro' out. It's got to be good to beat the 1940's one with Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone. It kept us kids going for weeks that did, that and 'The Sea Hawk' with Errol Flynn. Everybody had wooden swords and spent the day fencing each other, even did it without the swords sometime, must've looked barmy!

Originally posted by Texas
I see there's another version of 'Zorro' out. It's got to be good to beat the 1940's one with Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone. It kept us kids going for weeks that did, that and 'The Sea Hawk' with Errol Flynn. Everybody had wooden swords and spent the day fencing each other, even did it without the swords sometime, must've looked barmy! This is the second "New" Zorro.The last one with Catherine Zeta Jones,wasnt too bad,but this one hasnt got very good reviews.Cant beat the old black & white Zorro.Errol Flynn also as "Robin Hood" I wonder why 3D films ,never caught on ? I thought they were great.Were supposed to hand the specs in afterwards,but we kept ours,thinking we would be able to see 3D outside the cinema as well !

Didn't Andy Devine become Mayor of someplace in California, a small town in the desert, it began with a 'B', Barstow or something. I know it wasn't Bakersfield though. There was a fad for collecting pictures of filmstars back in the 40's, somebody got the addresses of various Hollywood studios at school and one or two kids used to write and ask for signed photos, they got them too.

I remember going to the cinemas in the 50s.we were still at school then.if the film was classed as a U we could get in at a childs price of 9pence.if it was an A we would put on make-up nylon stockings,sneak a pair of our mums high heels and try to get in as 16,year olds.the cashier at the ritz got wise to our scam,and asked us to make up our minds how old we wanted to be we settled for 16. we used to go to the capitol lane top sunday nights did anyone go to the roscoe?it used to be called the bug hut,it was said you went up 12 steps and came down13.i remember going to see rock around the clock 14,times.happy days

At the Ritz we used to put together to pay for one of us to go in. He then used to open the fire door down the bottom corner and a load of us would pile in :hihi: Only got caught once :clap: I remember once going to the greengrocers the bottom of Palgrave rd. and got an apple between us to share. A great big cookin apple :o Must have been funny watching us eat it, the apple might have been sour ,but imagine the snot it collected on the way round. :heyhey: Once took a little bar of chocolate I found at home and shared it out while watching the film. Remember running home and spending the rest of Saturday on the lav. My mates never did find out it was ex-lax:rolleyes:

Originally posted by burnttoast
At the Ritz we used to put together to pay for one of us to go in. He then used to open the fire door down the bottom corner and a load of us would pile in :hihi: Only got caught once :clap: I remember once going to the greengrocers the bottom of Palgrave rd. and got an apple between us to share. A great big cookin apple :o Must have been funny watching us eat it, the apple might have been sour ,but imagine the snot it collected on the way round. :heyhey: Once took a little bar of chocolate I found at home and shared it out while watching the film. Remember running home and spending the rest of Saturday on the lav. My mates never did find out it was ex-lax:rolleyes: Can you remember that lovely ice cream,just after the war,that the usherettes brought round?We had never tasted ice cream with rationing being on.It was in brickette shape,and was wrapped in plain white paper.It was a lovely dark yellow,and really creamy,like cornish ice cream.Only posh people bought food at the foyer,we used to smuggle a bottle of Tizer in, and jam sandwiches.

Nearly forgot about the jam sandwiches wrapped up in some newspaper. Used to go dry but we still et em. Yes the ice cream brickets you could put them in square type cones or a couple of wafers. Only got them when I went with my Mam;) A bag of chips with loads of scraps on the way home. luverly.

I like the snotty apple bit burnttoast. Me and another kid, Ken Eades by name,(where is he now I wonder), bought a shilling's worth of peanut butter from the Farmshop on Castle St, it was just after the war and stuff like that was a novelty to us kids. So we took it into the News Theatre and ate it, fingerfull by fingerfull, dripping grease all the time. It was about as big as a brick, the shilling's worth, I dont know about Ken, but it lasted me for about three days I reckon. I do believe we left some for the sweeper up. Remember another actor (western sidekick) called Chill Wills?

Thanks for the memories!
In the early fifties my brother and I would join the long queue on Saturday afternoon for the 'Satday Matnay' as we called it.
It cost ninepence each and lasted from about 1.30 - 4.00pm. We would make a frozen Jubbly last for ages and then eat Satsumas and 2ozs 'Winter Mixture' or some other gut rotting confection each.
On the way home we would buy Beech Nut chewing gum - and were ecstatic if the arrow was pointing towards us because when that happened you got two packets instead of one!

I remember watching cowboy and indian films, zorro, laurel and hardy but our most favourite of all was Robin Hood. We used to sing Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen.
Robin Hood, Robin Hood with his band of men
Loved by the BBC ... Feared by the ITV Robin Hood Robin Hood Robin Hood. I dont have a clue why that song was so popular to this day.
Whenever the films broke down we would stamp our feet and the harrassed manager would threaten to throw us all out... he never did. Whenever anyone kissed we would make slurping noises or hiss and boo!
Then, like most of our pals we would make our way home on imaginary horseback, only stopping to do our Harry Worth impersonations in any available shop window.
Great days..

Hi Everybody,
Only just noticed this link on here. I thoroughly enjoyed all the letters and leaves me nothing to add. GreaT memories how could we forget. Did anyone mention The Dead End Kids with that one called Sachmo he was a dope. I liked that one.
I liked the Old Mother Riley movies. First movie I went to see Was Edward G Robinson in a sea picture he went down with the ship, frightened me death. forgot the name though
Vera.

Originally posted by bits
The Sunbeam at Firvale, The Roxy was at page hall on Idsworth Road, there was a cinema we all called the "Bug - Hut" going towards Upwell Street any ideas?:help: one or two serials spring to mind:- Nyoka girl of the jungle, Rocketman, Superman, and of course Tarzan. All of this plus a nice JUBBLY,
we could also get fishcake & chips for 6d.
it was called the victory met my wife on the steps going in
got kicked out many a time or clipped with the doormans flashlamp
all the best hapy memory

Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall. First, The Dead End Kids, then The East Side Kids and lastly The Bowery Boys, and the thing about their films was that they started out deadly serious and finished up almost knockabout comedy. I was trying to remember the names they went under in the films, I could remember Sach (Huntz Hall), but I couldn't think of Leo Gorcey's, then I got it, Muggsy, easy in'it? I would like to see their first movie called 'Dead End', a social commentary I believe.

Lovely memories....... Our 'local' was a small, not too clean 'cinema' in St Philips Road, I think it was called the Weston
anyone remember it? if it was a 'A' film showing we would wait outside for an adult to take us in. There was the more posh Scala at the top of Brook Hill, but I think it cost more to get in there! It is very enjoyable reading all the messages and memories people have posted on this thread.

I think that the Scala was demolished in about 1963-4 when they moved the road to expand the university.