General Chat

Hey Ray - Yes! Hopalong Cassidy, clippety clippety clop. Hopalong Cassidy, always on the trot. He rides by day He rides by night la-la-la-la-la la-la-la la (can't remember the rest of the words! HELP!) Janet

A few years ago our local cinema started "Saturday morning pictures", for children under 10 I think it was, but they had to be accompanied by an adult, not the same, part of the fun was going without adults. My friend had small children at the time and said she wouldn't allow her children to go on their own, a sign of the times, it is a shame really. Sue

The ABC song was for the ABC cinemas like the Savoy. The other song was for Gaumont cinemas. The Gaumont was the first to start Saturday morning clubs. I remember the first time I went we had the sing song-I think we called the organist Uncle Vic -(Walsall was the first to have the Worlitzer Organ) and then the National Anthem I though that was the end of it then came the films. The serial (don't they seem sad now) was a must each week. Good old days? Yes Pat

Tell me about it!!!! Sue

only trouble is Sue ,we are showing our age ,terrible ain,t it. Denis.

Denis - That's it. It has been driving me mad not being able to remember. Sue G.

Hi Sue g, as members of the odeon club we all intend to be, good citizens as we grow up ,thats our philosophy, we come along on saterday ------------,that it? remembered from the odeon club in high wycombe yep those were the days.Denis tfn Newcastle.

I used to go to the local cinema in Southfields. Also known affectionately as the'fleapit'. About a dozen children from my estate would go. But only a few paid to go in. The rest waited by the fire exits, outside, for the doors to be opened by our compadres and then we would make our way to the stalls. I can remember throwing a jubbly and being told off by the usherette. Still have a great love for popcorn. If my son goes to the movies he always brings me home some popcorn. If I go to the movies I finish the box! Oh happy days Kathy

Yes, I remember it well! The Saturday morning flicks in the 1950's! Mum would give me 1/-. 6d for the bus fare, 3d to get in and 3d for a lolly or some sweets in the interval. It was known as the 'birthday club', as when we joined (think it was 3d for life membership!) we gave them our date of birth, name and address. On our birthday we received a birthday card and a ticket for free entry to the pictures on the following Saturday. Everyone who had a birthday during the previous week was called out to the front and the rest of them had to sing 'Happy Birthday' to them. We would have some cartoons first - something like Woody Woodpecker, or Tom and Jerry. Then it would be Flash Gordon ( I remember the Clay Men very well!) and then it would be the big film, which could be anything - a cowboy or comedy, and sometimes, something like 'The Blob' with such awful special effects that they made us all laugh. (Not frightening at all!) I mention The Blob because someone shouted out that it looked like warm jam - which it did! Aaah! The memories! Janet

Ha yes those cliff hangers,when they went over a cliff at the end of a film we really thought they had and could not wait till next week to see what had happened to them,there they were hanging onto a twig that just happened to be sticking out of the cliff.Great memories. Jan

I loved Saturday morning pictures at the Odeon, Barking Road, East Ham when I was about 8 in 1965. Can't remember whether it cost 6d or a shilling though. Before the films began all the girls used to take turns and dance on the stage (so funny to recall) in front of the audience! I remember a particular film that was split into 6 sessions about a group of kids who found clues to the whereabouts of some treasure. We were rivetted to the screen- the diction was poor so we had to guess what the cast were talking about most of the time but it didn't matter!! There was a new clue each week so you were compelled to return the next!! Aileen

Terri.....such memories, How they finished each week on a cliff hanger that you had to fo back the following Saturday to find out how they got out of it.I remember the tune of the song and tonight while cooking dinner I was singing it,How sad is that ...la la la la la la la laa la Lynn

saturday morning picture show boy oh boy where for a tanner you got pure joy. Roy Rogers and Trigger, Dale Evans too the Bowery boys to name a few. Flash Gordan and merciless Ming King Kong, and Rin Tin Tin we cheered our heroes, of which there were many ate gob stoppers bought for a penny. There in the dark, adventure was rife. as cowboys fought duels in fear of their life. we laughed at Charlie the sad little clown and laurel and hardy wearing slapstick's crown. Nostalgia has me in its grip how I loved the saturday trip was pure magic for me to go to the sixpenny picture show. Terri Morrow.

Sue G. We sang the same song and I cant remember the missing lines either. I went to the Gaumont-Peckham, not far from the Old Kent Road. I think it was 6d.

It was...." The 3d. Rush" for me..... And we had to leave our toy guns with the Usherette...Grr :((

Mine too Kathy

Sue, I think it was 6p at the ABC too - think my parents were glad to get rid of me for a few hours. lol :-)) Kathy

The song we sang was: We come along on Saturday morning greeting everybody with a smile We come along on Saturday morning knowing that it's all worth while it does go on for a few more lines, but I can't remember, it was soooo long ago. The last line though was "greeting everybody with a smile, smile, smile. I'll ask hubby when he comes in he may remember. The cinema I went to was the Astoria in the Old Kent Road, it was 6d. Sue

I used to go to Saturday morning pictures as a kid at the ABC Ritz cinema in Clapton, East London. Before the film show started we all had to sing this song:- "We are the girls and boys well known as Minors of the ABC And every Saturday all line up To see the films we like and should aloud with glee. We like to laugh and have a sing song What a happy crowd are we We're all pals together We're minors of the ABC." Did anyone else sing this? Or am I the only one? Later on my sons went too. Kathy

Yes I remember, 4d it cost me, or 4 jam jars, Flash Gordon, Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, them were the days. couldnt buy sweets.