Going To The Pictures » Tag: Adverts

Programme for Bootle Odeon June 1963

admin — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:45:19 +0000

Cinema programmes were freely available within cinemas and used to promote new releases as well as local businesses. Film programmes changed frequently during the 30′s to the 60′s, often three times a week, and different cinemas would have different films showing, unlike today where films come out on general release and can be seen in every cinema at the same time.

The films shown would depend on the cinema and what film circuit it was under. New films were released in what was called first runs or first release , these would generally go out to the larger circuit of cinemas first,usually in town centres before being released to surburban cinemas in what would be called the second run or second release, this could sometimes be weeks or months later.

Films were also re – released, often years after their initial showing in cinemas, but as film programmes changed so frequently and often more than one film would be shown within the weekly program, a chance to see a film again was popular with cinema goers.

The smaller cinema circuits and independent cinemas often struggled to get first or even second run films but as cinema going was such a popular pastime a screening of a re-release would be well attended.

Here we have an original copy of a Cinema programme from Bootle Odeon June 1963. in the programme there were two re-releases from 1954 , ‘Ulysees’ and ‘Atilla the Hun’, both films were described as ‘Sword and Sandals’ films, but were still popular with audiences almost nine years after original first release.

Programme for Odeon Bootle 1963 – X rated!

admin — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:14:41 +0000

Cinema programme for the Bootle Odeon May 1963. The two ‘X’ rated films would no doubt be considered rather tame by todays cinemagoers!

As well as adverising forthcoming and current film attractions, cinema programmes often promoted local business as well. Local firms would pay for advertising space which would assist in the cost of publication of the cinema programme.

The adverts themselves are quite interesting pieces of social history. One of the adverts on the programme below is for a heel bar in Bootle, offering to change the colour of your shoes to match your summer outfit, this is a service unheard of today in our modern disposable consumer society.

Flyer for Bootle Gaumont for the film ‘The Day of the Triffids’

admin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:21:39 +0000

Flyers would sometimes be handed out to cinema goers to promote new films being shown at the cinema. Very few original flyers from old local picture houses have survived, and as with other cinema memorabilia much has been discared over the years. The Going to the Pictures project has asked people to unearth surviving pieces of cinema memorabilia and has been fortunate enough to be able to scan and display some original pieces through this website.

A flyer handed to cinemagoers at the Bootle Gaumont for the forthcoming 1962 films
‘The Day of the Triffids’ and ‘Legions Last Patrol’

The film ‘ Day of the Triffids’ was based on a famous John Wyndham sci-fi novel of the same name.

Interestingly the main theme to the supporting film ‘The Legions Last Patrol’ was released as a single in the UK and got to number 4 in the charts in 1963.

The film had an ‘X’ certificate on release and is regularly shown on television, however on the film’s DVD release it was given a 15 certificate.

Flyer for the film ‘Cape Fear,’ Bootle Gaumont

admin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:01:07 +0000

As well as advertising in local newspapers and cinema programmes flyers or leaflets were also sometimes produced and handed out to cinema goers to advertise current and pre- release films. Many of these have been lost and thrown away over the years.

Below is a scanned copy of a flyer handed out to cinemagoers advertising films from March 1961. The films showing in the cinema at that time were ’Cape Fear,’ the main attraction and also ‘Danger by my Side’. This flyer was distributed at the Bootle Gaumont Cinema and has been stored for over 50 years.

The film ‘Cape Fear’ starred Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, and was subsequently remade in 1991, starring Robert DeNiro and Nick Nolte.

The original film received an ‘X’certificate on release but it is regularly shown on television, however on the film’s DVD release it was given a 15 certificate.