We were all lucky enough in the 1950s to be able to visit the cinema in our local town – not just one cinema but two or three or more in each town and each one with a different ‘two film’ programme along with the usual Pearl and Dean advertising slot. Then we got the ‘Coming shortly’ trailers which I just loved – they were very enticing and before we knew it we were planning the next cinema trip as we just could not miss what we had seen – even though we had only seen a tiny bit.

This was a picture taken in the lovely town of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire advertising what was on at the State Cinema in 1960 – but is was not what it seems. In fact ‘Carousel’ was not the film but the Gainsborough Theatre Players putting on their yearly production on the stage of The State Cinema

A truly beautiful vintage cinema, The Palace Cinema in Cinderford proves that running an independent cinema is a real labour of love for owners. There’s a hand-drawn map on how to get there on the website, a whole host of original features in the building itself, and a friendly couple who run it. Free tea and coffee with winter tea matinees are a winner.

ABOVE – Now this is one of the most famous cinemas in the Country in the beautiful small town of Woodhall Spa, again in Lincolnshire.

It is the ‘Kinema in the Woods’

There is still an organ that is, quite often played prior to the film being shown

This was a favourite of mine – the Odeon St Albans which is now beautifully restored and has been re-named as the ‘TheOdyssey’

The Cinema is breathtaking the original Art Deco features that remained have been incorporated into the new scheme and the end result is an auditorium which is beautiful and a true picture palace which harks back to a bygone age . Unlike the multiplex’s The Odyssey has Screen Curtains and all the sense of occasion and grandure that a visit to the cinema used to have.

In the Stalls – as shown – are tables with swivel seats which offer a different experience as you can sit at a table with a drink and then turn towards the screen as the film starts. In the balcony the rows of seats have massive amounts of leg room and the seats themselves are all armchair type offering the height of comfort.

The Odyssey technically is brilliant it has a massive Screen with the very latest digital projection technology, the sound system is the very latest reactive sound system and has the surround speakers hidden in the walls, the Odyssey offers sound and vision better than West End Cinemas in Leicester Square.

The Cinema in summary is a beautifully restored Art Deco masterpiece.

It must lay claim to being the finest cinema in the country – maybe even the world !!

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Another favourite the Cinema in Lobethal, South Australia – just outside of Adelaide – a small village in Adelaide Hills

Lobethal Cinema – ABOVE

Lobethal Cinema – ABOVE

Inside this classic cinema – very English

Preparing for ‘Curtain Up’

These pictures evoke a cinema experience from the past.

I love this Cinema in Lobethal