- Contributed byÌý
- ´óÏó´«Ã½ Southern Counties Radio
- People in story:Ìý
- Bert Barnhurst
- Location of story:Ìý
- Streatham
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4391147
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 07 July 2005
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A visit to our local cinema, the Regal in Streatham High Road, was always an event. I was a great devotee of cowboy films at the time, being about seven or eight years of age. After the initial queue to get in, there was the excitement of the anticipation of the film, having to come home in the dark with the aid of a torch as there was no street lighting.
On one occasion about 1941 — can’t remember the exact date — my Mother took me to see a cowboy film - my favourite kind. In those days the programme consisted of the Main Feature, a B-movie and a recital by an organist — this was the usual arrangement for the time. One thing you were never sure of was whether a warning would be flashed up on the screen to advise you that an air raid was in progress. On this particular occasion, that is precisely what happened but in true show business parlance, the show went on and people stayed in their seats.
After we had seen both films, had the organist up twice and the air raid was still continuing, the Manager came on stage and suggested that he show the main feature again. After that, plus another visit from the organist, with the raid still going on, he asked the audience what they would like to do now. A thunderous roar descended on the cinema but it had nothing to do with the air raid………. it was the noise of the stampeding feet of repressed thespians trying to be first on the stage!
After an interminable period of boredom for a youngster who only wanted to see Tom Mix, and with the raid still going on, I, together with many other young children went to sleep in the aisle of the cinema probably covered by my Mother’s coat. After what seemed like an eternity, and being put off organists and music hall acts for life, we were advised that the raid was over and we could go home.
What cinema could cope with all that today I wonder?
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