Going To The Pictures

Childrens Matinées

sneaking in through the fire-exit…

"I remember the club song which went like this: “To the Ode – Odeon we have come..."

Odeon Saturday Club song

“I remember the club song which went like this: “To the Ode – Odeon we have come…”

When we were all younger, we used to go to the Odeon cinema for the the Saturday Morning Club.  We would pay our 6(d) pence to go in, buy our sweets and walk into the main auditorium were a man played the organ.

The happy memories of the Odeon Cinema, Waterloo (now the Plaza)

When we were all younger, we used to go to the Odeon cinema for the the Saturday Morning Club. We would pay our 6(d) pence to go in, buy our sweets and walk into the main auditorium were a man played the organ.

My father did shift work, so every third week we would all go to the pictures either to the Regent, Plaza or the Corona...

Visits to various picture houses in the area with family and friends

My father did shift work, so every third week we would all go to the pictures either to the Regent, Plaza or the Corona…

In 1933/34 I went to “The Pictures” for the first time, but I was not impressed.  The black and white film was very old and scratched; it looked like driving rain to me.  A few years later I went again and paid a penny to get in with a penny for ice cream in the interval.

My first visit to the Winter Gardens, Waterloo.

In 1933/34 I went to “The Pictures” for the first time, but I was not impressed. The black and white film was very old and scratched; it looked like driving rain to me. A few years later I went again and paid a penny to get in with a penny for ice cream in the interval.

Films came to the cinema on large reels which would be projected onto the screen, the reels would sometimes break and get mixed up

Reels would sometimes break down or get mixed up

Films came to the cinema on large reels which would be projected onto the screen, the reels would sometimes break and get mixed up

In the early days of cinema films for children would often be of American origin and sometimes just be adult films which had been edited until British films especially made for the child audience came along following concerns about the effects of film on the young audience.

J. Arthur Rank and Children’s Entertainment Films

In the early days of cinema films for children would often be of American origin and sometimes just be adult films which had been edited until British films especially made for the child audience came along following concerns about the effects of film on the young audience.

After the Second World War, the church and educationalists raised concerns regarding what was being shown within the children’s cinema matinees, and in the cinemas in general, highlighting Hollywood’s  glamorization of immoral behavior and crime.

Morality at the Cinema

After the Second World War, the church and educationalists raised concerns regarding what was being shown within the children’s cinema matinees, and in the cinemas in general, highlighting Hollywood’s glamorization of immoral behavior and crime.

Common themes remembered by cinema goers of the 30’s to the 60’s is that of ‘bunking in’ or not paying to get into the cinema. Also young cinema goers from the period of the 30's to the 60's would often ask strangers if they could go into the cinema with them so they could watch films that maybe they shouldn't due to censorship and film classifications.

Confessions of bunking in at the Pictures

Common themes remembered by cinema goers of the 30’s to the 60’s is that of ‘bunking in’ or not paying to get into the cinema. Also young cinema goers from the period of the 30′s to the 60′s would often ask strangers if they could go into the cinema with them so they could watch films that maybe they shouldn’t due to censorship and film classifications.

Some cinemas would have additional entertainment aside from the films which would entertain and involve audience participation.

Additional entertainment at the Cinema matinees

Some cinemas would have additional entertainment aside from the films which would entertain and involve audience participation.

Things sold within the cinema during the 1930's to the 1960's were limited in terms of the refreshments and snacks sold within modern cinemas.

No supersized popcorn or giant fizzy drinks

Things sold within the cinema during the 1930′s to the 1960′s were limited in terms of the refreshments and snacks sold within modern cinemas.

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