Mawgrim

Uncle Peter often told stories about the Palace cinema where he worked. He’d come round to the house a couple of times a month, usually close to meal time. ‘Scrounging again,’ mum used to say, but not unkindly. He was her older brother by several years and was a projectionist at the scruffy cinema close to the town centre. Dean had never been there. On the rare occasions his parents took him and his brother to see a film they went to the Cannon at the top end of the High Street. ‘Don’t men

1986 Cat There was always a break between the end of the afternoon and evening shows. Alfie used it to eat his meal, while Cat liked to go down to the mini screens and put on music for the staff. Non-sync music, played before the performances started was strictly instrumental; James Last and his Orchestra, Mantovani or music from the film soundtrack, if it met the criteria. It was part of the presentation standards that had not changed or years and she could see the point in some ways.

1986 Cat During her second week of training, something unexpected happened. It was early evening; a short break between houses. She had just sat down for a cup of tea and something to eat when the house phone rang. ‘Can you come downstairs, Cat. There’s someone here to see you.’ She wondered who it could be and wished they could have left it for another ten minutes so that she’d had a chance to rest her feet. ‘I won’t be long,’ she said to Alfie, and went down to the fo

Multiplex cinemas are entirely digital these days, but most of the independents have either 35mm or 70mm projectors too for special events. A lot of people still like seeing films on actual film, plus some directors prefer the look of film, too.

1986 Cat She didn’t get to see Alfie for nearly a week, due to days off and the different shift patterns. Jimmy had called in sick, so until Darren came in at six she was the sole member of staff responsible for selling tickets and sweets and also directing the odd few customers to their respective screens. It wasn’t ideal – people could inadvertently wander into the wrong screens – but as it was just her and Mrs Thomas on duty there was no other way around it. Mrs Thomas never

Glad you are enjoying it.

1986 Cat Five years had passed since the Gaumont closed. Cat reflected how strange it was that she could recall events from that year more vividly than things that happened just a few months ago. Her life had become a dull routine; there was no doubt about that. Back then, she had been naïve enough to believe that if you had genuine talent, opportunities would open up before you. Now she knew it didn’t work that way. People who had left college with far worse grades had become s

1982 Bill Bill leaned down and picked up the coin from the wet pavement. It was only ten pence, not enough even to buy a bag of chips these days, but he couldn’t just leave it there. He remembered the smile on his dad’s face, all those years ago, when he’d spot a penny or even a halfpenny in the street. ‘Life always brings you something,’ dad used to say. ‘However small it seems, don’t ignore it.’ And these days every penny was needed. Inflation was through the roof and

Most definitely. The noise of the safety curtain descending was very memorable. It actually helped preserve the interior from vandalism over the five years the building stood empty before demolition.

1980 Cat The summer holidays arrived. Free from college, Cat took on some extra overtime each week. ‘Good job the summer’s here,’ Mr Watkins said. ‘Those boilers won’t make it through another winter. I’m expecting a call from head office any time to tell us our days are numbered. Just so long as I have the time to finish fitting out my boat first.’ It was a standing joke that whenever he was on duty, if he wasn’t in the office, then he’d be in the old scene dock at the back

Beautiful theatre. Glad it was restored.

Over the next few days Cat learned more about the cinema and the people who worked there. The circle was closed to the public as it was in such a bad state of repair. The carpet was mouldy and some of the seats had collapsed, but the main reason it remained out of bounds was due to the rodent problem. ‘Imagine sitting up there and having a great big rat scamper over your feet. The local papers would have a field day,’ Geoff told her. They had a little tour upstairs, when he showed her the

Well done and well deserved.

You may be right there. The cinema will help her to become more confident.