“I remember there were two screenings in the evenings. The first house started at around 6 o’clock, with the second at around 8:15pm. It was a real rush for workers to get to the first house. Sometimes there were two separate showings, but often everything went on continuously.

What was particularly frustrating was that after queuing for half-hour or more for the second house, in often cold and wet conditions, you could not be sure of getting in until after the main film had started. This was because the first house viewers would stay on.

Another memory is of the Odeon Club on Saturday mornings. I remember the club song which went like this: “To the Ode – Odeon we have come. Now we’re all together we can have some fun. Is everybody happy – YES…. Etc. etc.” I can’t remember the rest.”

Eileen Clarke

Below is a video clip of another version of the Odeon Cinema Club Song. The ABC Minors also had a Cinema Club song. Clubs, songs and badges gave the children a feeling of belonging and brought loyalty to the cinemas as child regulars returned each week.

The manager of the cinema would award marks to the children, prizes such as free cinema tickets and sweets could be won by the highest scoring monitors.

Watch James Walsh’ memories of being a monitor at the Gainsborough cinema:

“I was born in 1952 – as a young girl, I was a ‘very’ proud ABC Minor and wore my badge with pride!  I was at the Regal in Litherland every Saturday morning without fail. I remember the wonderful sense of ‘belonging’. I loved singing the the song ‘We are the ABC Minors, happy girls and boys……’ – and we were!!!

In 1959 when Ben Hur was advertised I was desperate to go and see it but my Mum said I wasn’t old enough.

In the 60′s groups of us would think nothing of walking from Litherland,  to and from the Odeon in Crosby and the Gaumont in Bootle to see all the new films.

In 1968, I went out on my first ‘proper’ date, what did we do?  We went to see Oliver! I’ve still got the programme!!

My Dad was born in 1919 he used to tell me he used to collect jam jars to get into the ‘pictures’!!!!

I realise what a big part of my growing up revolved around the local cinemas!”

Jean Livingstone

1956 Ice Cream advert

“As a lad in the early fifties I used to go the Gainy Abc minors Sat morning and if it was your birthday you went on stage and got a free tub of ice cream and a free pass for next week. Sunny the (doorman) said to me:

“Davey the amount of birthdays you have you have to be at least 106 years old” (he was wrong, 107)

Great days”

Davey Rowlands, Balfour Road. Ex pat. – Sent from Queensland Australia

“Our street gang used to go to the REGAL for the ABC Minors, and we sang our heart out….”we are the boys and girls well known as, the members of the…..” after the song was finished we got into the feature film and every baddie on screen we BOOOOOOED and every goodie it was YEEEEEAAAAAHHHH…..we were a noisy bunch…..it was dark inside that when we came out to the light of day we were blinded by the light…..but we became Cowboys and Indians once we hit the streets home….ha”

Pam in Indiana USA 
Keegan, Carruthers, Rigg, Copland, Lobb, Hough, Mee 
born in Bootle later lived in Netherton