SIR, In response to your article about the Odeon cinema.
After the reopening after the war, the first film was "The Rocking Horse Winner" staring John Howard Davis, now deceased, but in later life worked at the BBC as a producer of some note.
I was about five-years-old at the time and was photographed by the then "Evening News" in the queue at the opening. I think Valerie Hobson made a live appearance at the premier, I remember she was in a large ball gown and the size of the car she arrived in to a five-year-old was massive.
The fifties brought in giant cardboard figures, between the large pillars above the entry to the cinema, to advertise the feature film. The most impressive was a model of Victor Mature as Samson in "Samson and Delila", about 20ft high pushing down the pillars. Also there was a Bob Hope figure that moved "placing a sweet into his mouth" from the film "The Lemon Drop Kid."
Plush seating, fitted carpet and military like ushers in uniform, the ice cream girl in the interval in full spotlight selling from her tray of ice cream.
In those days the cinema was the main source of entertainment.
Happy days gone forever.
J BADGER
Worcester
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here