Coventry Cinemas

Do you mean just in Coventry or nationally Dreamtime? By 1964 there were 800 cinemas in the UK* running children's matinees. These had been subsidised since 1951 by a levy on the UK movie industry. By 1980 the number of cinemas holding regular children's matinees had fallen to 151 and the following year the industry subsidy was abandoned. *That's an average of only one per municipal authority area so Coventry was particularly well-blessed in having at least three. By the way Dreamtime I did sometimes visit the Empire on Saturday mornings instead of the Gaumont but cannot for the life of me remember why?

Yes I did mean just in Coventry, I asked because I couldn't remember any of the others. The Empire was rather "same old, same old" apart from the sing alongs. I never liked sitting near the front as you would get hit on the back of the head with something. Looking back now who on earth would want to go to those places, it was utter mayhem! But it didn't stop us going though. Then there was a stampede to get out. Perhaps they were a more sedate lot thatwent to the Gaumont. Ooooo I wonder.

Dreamtime: I was a regular at the Gaumont 'Tanner Rush' in the 60s and recall those cliffhanger serials. Some were Westerns, such as Cody of the Pony Express, others were space stories featuring invaders from Venus who carried ray guns that looked remarkably like hair dryers. I went to the Gaumont for several years, although I did go in the circle for 9d rather than the stalls for a tanner. I met friends there every week that I never saw any other time. It started at 9.30ish, so my breakfast was always a hot dog in the interval, which was at the end of the cliffhanger. The formula was the same every week, shorts and cartoons, then the serial. After the interval the feature would last until about 12.30. They had older kids as stewards, some of whom could be quite nasty with the little kids. I did always think that the Gaumont was the better option, as we were told all the 'rough kids' went to the Empire. I can remember the usual horseplay at the Gaumont, but not really any trouble. There were certainly no sing-alongs when I went either. Happy days, though, I must have been a regular there for 3-4 years.

They always played the National Anthem at the end I can recall and none of us would dare leave while it was playing

Really MisterD-Di? I remember not only singalongs at the Gaumont but also the organ console rising up from the erstwhile orchestra pit to accompany us! This was during the period 1960-1963 after which the interior was revamped and the organ ripped out.

I must be younger than you, Dutchman.... I went to the Gaumont from around 1964 to 1968 so it seems I missed the delights of the sing-alongs. There was no organ used when I was going, so that would seem to be right. Frankly, had they happened at the time it would have put me off going.

The Globe in Primrose Hill St, and prior to it being bombed the Rialto on Moseley Ave

I also went to the Globe on Saturday mornings. Dad used to give me 9d pocket money, 6d to get in and 3d to spend on sweets.

I'm curious whether the Odeon in Far Gosford Street held Saturday morning matinees, given that venue's popularity with children and the fact that it was owned by Rank who also owned the Gaumont?

Would it be the Odeon that was near to Light Cars, not the Paris Muriel Aston remembers going there in the 1950s, that kept a lot of cats to keep the rats down She remembers going and looking down and a rat was on her foot

Hello everyone, Which one was called the 'flea pit'. I have a feeling I went into that one once. I repeat once!

The 'flea pit' was in general use for cinemas, so it could be any of them, in any town or city!

No David., the Paris was nearest to Light Cars and was known as the Crown in the 1950s. It was certainly a flea pit back then. The Odeon was up the hill towards Gosford Green, well away from the car showrooms.

I don't know if the Ritz on Corporation St qualifies but would that count as its last showing of "Gone with Wind"?