Your first time at the cinema

[Hitch]

Hello everyone!
I am doing a series of 3 minute films with peoples first experience at the cinema, and was wondering if anyone out there would like to participate. It is much easier than you would think, because all i need is 3 mins of audio off people.

I am running a series of clips over the audio you record to make the final films, so if you are camera shy, this is perfect!

Things i would like you to include in the 3mins:

* Where you went
* Who you went to the cinema with
* The film you went to see
* Any distinct things you remember about the cinema itself (projection lights, red chairs, etc)
* Your favourite scene or dialogue from the film

If you can do this, and would like to be part of the film, then PM me and i will send you my email address to send the audio to. Thanks in advance!

[darrenburnfan]

Although I have no interest in saying it before a camera, I do remember my first visit to the cinema although it was an incredible sixty years ago. My mother and Godmother to me on my fourth birthday in April, 1951, to the now long gone Essoldo, Stockport, to see Victor Mature and Hedy Lamaar in Cecil B. DeMille's Technicolor epic, Samson and Delilah. I distinctly remember watching the scene where Samson pushed apart the stone pillars of the Temple of Dagon and quite literally brought the house down. I also remember during the performance turning around in my seat amd being fascinated by the shimmering blue beam of light coming from somewhere "up there" that seemed to have something to do with the goings on on the screen...little realising that in ten years time, I'd be going into a cinema projection room myself, although not at the Essoldo, Stockport.

[Sgt Sunshine]

Although I have no interest in saying it before a camera, I do remember my first visit to the cinema although it was an incredible sixty years ago. My mother and Godmother to me on my fourth birthday in April, 1951, to the now long gone Essoldo, Stockport, to see Victor Mature and Hedy Lamaar in Cecil B. DeMille's Technicolor epic, Samson and Delilah. I distinctly remember watching the scene where Samson pushed apart the stone pillars of the Temple of Dagon and quite literally brought the house down. I also remember during the performance turning around in my seat amd being fascinated by the shimmering blue beam of light coming from somewhere "up there" that seemed to have something to do with the goings on on the screen...little realising that in ten years time, I'd be going into a cinema projection room myself, although not at the Essoldo, Stockport.

Hello darrenburnfan.........
I managed to find an old photo of the "Essoldo" Stockport, but it appears to have seen better days......
Not sure when photo was taken, but it appears as if it was ready for demolition.......



Cheers
Sgt S

[darrenburnfan]

Thanks for that Sgt. I've never seen that photo before. You're right, it it looks closed down there...although it looked a lot smarter than that in the early 1950s when I was first taken there.

[didi-5]

Like darrenburnfan I'm camera shy but my first cinema visit was in 1978 to the Odeon, Oldham (formerly the Palace Theatre, and now long demolished). I was five years old. The film was The Rescuers and I went with my mum. I have strong memories of the 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' sides of the cinema, where, of course, all the smoke drifted across from the cigarettes. Pearl and Dean ads, I think. The Odeon clock to the left of the screen. The film itself was magical, or at least I thought so then. Animated mice, and songs!

Here's some information on the Palace/Odeon: http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/OldhamTheatres.htm#palace

[Windyridge]

101 Dalmatians at the Cobham cinema (god knows what it was called) at about 4 years old. Had to be taken out as soon as Cruella de Ville's silhouette appears at the front door as found that terrifying. V embarrassing for my mum.

[GoggleboxUK]

Not my very first visit to the cinema but the first time i went without my parents was to the ABC in Preston. I saw Superman with Christopher Reeve (he was starring in it, not accompanying me).



The ABC Cinema was located on the corner of Fishergate and Theatre Street. It opened on 14th March 1959 with Rex Harrison in "The Reluctant Debutante". Film star Richard Todd appeared 'in person' on the opening night. The cinema was a modern building with seating provided in stalls and circle levels. There were troughs in the ceiling, which extended down the side-walls and contained concealed lighting.

The ABC was closed on 7th April 1973 to allow for a Painted Wagon pub to be constructed in the rear stalls area beneath the circle. It re-opened on 6th May 1973 using 637 seats in the circle area only. The ABC was closed on 11th September 1982, playing a double bill (X) certificate programme.

It was demolished in October/November 1986 and the land became part of the new Fishergate Centre, thus ending a 180 year history of entertaining the townsfolk.

Pathe News division's 'Candid Camera' unit filmed the opening event and it can be seen here:

CANDID CAMERA VISITS ABC PRESTON - British Pathe

Amazing to find this footage and, after listening to the commentary, somewhat ironic that just over a quarter of a century later it would be gone.

[TimR]

Mary Poppins at the beginning of 1965, at the tiny Bronxville theatre in the suburbs of NYC.

[darrenburnfan]

I wouldn't say I was camera shy (or microphone shy), didi-5, but it would be far more trouble than it was worth to travel perhaps hundreds of miles to Hitch's place or for him to travel to my place just to record what would in my case be a minute or so of audio. But here are a few more milestones in my cinema going history:

First time I went to see a CinemaScope film: Moonfleet at the ABC Empire, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, at the age of eight in August, 1955.

First time I went to see an X certificate film: Rebel Without a Cause at the Focus cinema, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, at aged nearly ten in March, 1957. I got a man to take me in and the doddery old woman in the Pay-Box allowed him to take me in, because she mistakenly thought it was an A certificate film.

First time I went to the cinema on my own: To see D-Day, The Sixth of June at the Focus cinema, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, at the age of ten in September, 1957.

First time I went to see a 70mm presentation with magnetic stereophonic sound: The Sound of Music at the Odeon, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, at going on nineteen years of age in February, 1966.

[Hitch]

Just to clear a few things up, there would be no cameras involved and the aim of the project is for you to record it with your own devices, and then send it to me as an mp3!

Thanks for your responses so far though, would love to hear the voices behind the stories! :)

[Gerald Lovell]

101 Dalmatians at the Cobham cinema (god knows what it was called) at about 4 years old. Had to be taken out as soon as Cruella de Ville's silhouette appears at the front door as found that terrifying. V embarrassing for my mum.

Funnily enough, one of my first cinema attendances, perhaps the first, aged about three or four, was to see that. However, I am informed that I took Cruella in my stride, but my slightly older sister and cousin found her terrifying.

[darrenburnfan]

Just to clear a few things up, there would be no cameras involved and the aim of the project is for you to record it with your own devices, and then send it to me as an mp3!

Thanks for your responses so far though, would love to hear the voices behind the stories! :)

Sorry I haven't got the computer technology to do that, Hitch. I do have a cassette tape recorder, but no way of transferring any recording done on it onto my Laptop as an mp3 file.

[sippog]

My earliest film memory is being taken to the cinema by my father in the fifties. I was probably about five or six. Strangely I remembered the film as black and white and, for a long time, I thought, with hindsight, it was Korda's version of "The Jungle Book" starring Sabu - but that is apparently in colour.

I only remember a fragment of it featuring an elephant and a tiger. There was a moment when the tiger leaped 'out of the screen' towards the camera and I screamed in terror and had to be taken out. My father confessed to me later that he'd only taken me because he didn't know what else to do with a small child on a wet afternoon.

Fortunately it never prevented me from having a life-long love of films.

[darrenburnfan]

Sounds like it may have been the 3D version of Bwana Devil.

[didi-5]

I hate the sound of my voice ... the thought of recording it for an mp3 gives me the shakes!

Apologies darren - glad to hear you're not camera-shy!

[jimw1]

Like darrenburnfan I'm camera shy but my first cinema visit was in 1978 to the Odeon, Oldham (formerly the Palace Theatre, and now long demolished). I was five years old. The film was The Rescuers and I went with my mum. I have strong memories of the 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' sides of the cinema, where, of course, all the smoke drifted across from the cigarettes. Pearl and Dean ads, I think. The Odeon clock to the left of the screen. The film itself was magical, or at least I thought so then. Animated mice, and songs!

Here's some information on the Palace/Odeon: Theatres and Halls in Oldham, Greater Manchester

strangely enough didi my first experiences of cinema going were at the ABC in Oldham......Long since gone of course' Its now a car park.......












I remember my dad taking me on the odd occasion......

I particularly remember him taking myself and my Brother to see "You Only Live Twice" which I was certainly unimpressed with.

My best memory at the ABC was going to see S.W.A.L.K (Tracy Hyde
Mark Lester and Jack Wild) renamed Melody for the US audience

I was 12 Years old and it was the first time I had gone with a girlfriend lol




The Bee Gees song "The First of May" has remained a favourite of mine ever since

[Bernardo]

My first visit I know not where BUT there was the ugliest, greenest faced old hag filling the screen saying hegh hegh hegh hegh heghhhhhh. Most of the visit was spent under the seat after that. The Wizard Of Oz of course and I have never ever forgotten the visit.

[jimw1]

My first visit I know not where BUT there was the ugliest, greenest faced old hag filling the screen saying hegh hegh hegh hegh heghhhhhh. Most of the visit was spent under the seat after that. The Wizard Of Oz of course and I have never ever forgotten the visit.

I can Empathies with that experience Bernardo' but it was those Flying Monkeys that put the fear of god in me

[Windyridge]

Funnily enough, one of my first cinema attendances, perhaps the first, aged about three or four, was to see that. However, I am informed that I took Cruella in my stride, but my slightly older sister and cousin found her terrifying.

Man, you are HARD!

[Sgt Sunshine]

First time at the cinema for me was summer of '65 to see The Beatles 2nd film "Help". My older sister was probably under orders to get me out of the house etc ....so we walked just down the road to the Drake Cinema, Plymouth.



What impressed me the most (apart from the great music) was the film was in COLOUR.....Like everyone else we only had a B&W telly at home, so the colour effects really impressed me.......A particular scene I do remember is when the Beatles walk in 4 different doors, but all end up in the same large terraced house.
The Drake is still there, but its now a Casino.....
Cheers
Sgt S