Going To The Pictures » Tag: 1930's

Playing games relating to films and film stars

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:44:16 +0000

The children at the children’s cinema matinees would often get absorbed and carried away with the films being shown on the big screen. Such was their popularity that many games relating to the films and film stars were common place in and around the streets of Britain from the 1930′s to the 1960′s.

Many children would leave the cinema slapping their thighs and pretending to be cowboys like their favorite action hero’s. They would also use their coats as a capes, pretending to fly like batman, reliving what they had just watched on the screen.

The songs and musicals would be enacted around the streets when the young people left the cinema.

Hugging and kissing in the back row of the movies

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:39:04 +0000

The cinema has provided a popular venue for dating and through the 30’s to the 60’s was the first choice for many first dates and courting couples.

Due to the rolling and changing film program and the large number of cinemas, there was always lots of choice.

It was a warm, dark environment away from family and friends. That was until the lights would go on and many friends in courting couples would be scattered around the cinema especially on the back row. The cinema acted a social venue in which people from the community could come together, meet and find out who was dating who.

Copying film star styles

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:09:28 +0000

The role that cinema has played within society cannot be underestimated. The influence of film in helping form opinions and fashions can be seen and demonstrated through the decades from the headscarves and sunglasses of the 1930’s to the cinched waist lines from the stars of 40’s and 50’s Hollywood, to the Tony Curtis hairstyle of the 50’s and 60’s.

The Plaza cinema was opened and closed on same day

admin — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:25:31 +0000

“The Plaza opening was on 2^nd September 1939 and closed by the 3^rd September 1939, owing to the war. I had a ticket for the opening, I can’t remember what the film was.

My favourite memory is the organ on the stage.”

John Roberts