cinemas

Northampton had around 13 cinemas at the zenith of 'the pictures' during the 30s and 40s. However, let move on to the 1960s:

As a child my grandmother often took me to the cinema during the school holidays. Sometimes we went to the ABC, which she called The Savoy (it is now the Jesus Centre), but usually we ventured to the afternoon matinees at what she called The Corn Exchange and I knew, because it said so in huge letters on the porch, as The Odeon. This was during the 1960s, the era of the mini-skirt.

Although sadly I did not witness this myself, any talk of cinemas then would prompt Nan to mention a local chap who owned a poodle. The pair must have been inseparable, or the owner very lazy, because he took the poodle along to the cinema, settled-in and once the lights were down, he'd let the poodle off the lead to roam at will.

Nan, a great dog-lover, thought this was irresponsible, and for once her sympathies were not with the canine. "Well", she'd say, "think of these girls in their short skirts, and suddenly a cold wet nose comes sniffing around in the dark..."

I wonder if anyone has conducted a study into the price of cinema seats relative to disposable income? We had very slender means, but I don't recall that detering us from a trip to the pictures. Nan and I might go once a week during the summer holidays. I remember seeing The Sound of Music, which ran and ran, and it became the rage to clock-up as many screenings as time and money allowed. Nationally some folks saw it hundreds of times, though we only went once. Staying with Julie Andrews, we saw Mary Poppins, and a string of Walt Disney films such as The Incredible Journey. Hayley Mills and Dick van Dyke were other big stars of the summer holidays.

One film I remember vividly was Oh What a Lovely War!  I was too young to realise the historical significance of going with someone who had lived through WW1. Nan was coming-up to 18 when the Great War began, and though she enjoyed the songs, I think much of the satire was lost on her. However, unwittingly she was sowing the seeds for the obsession of my adult life, for her memories and this film are part of the rootstock of my interest in WW1.

CAPTURING NORTHAMPTON'S PAST - FOR THE FUTURE

That is Northampton Heritage Hunters motto.

We are a group who have come together to capture Northampton's past, through memories and research; and preserve it for future generations in our publications and displays.

The group meets every Friday morning from 10am to 12 noon at Alliston Gardens Community Centre, Adelaide Street (off Barrack Road, opposite the entrance to the Racecourse) £1.50 session fee towards expenses inc. room hire etc. Your first is meeting free, so don't be shy. Come at meet us upstairs at Alliston Gardens Centre.