I came across this picture – which has been colorised – and shows Mabel List greeting youngsters attending the Saturday Matinee in this Lincolnshire Town.

Not sure of the date but the lady, Mabel List worked there from 1947 until 1960. I bet that it was a good job too

The cinema had been re-named the Gaumont in 1949 and was modernised in early-1954, Reopening on 29 March 1954 with Edward G. Robinson in “The Glass Webb” showing.and with film stars Joan Rice and Donald Sindon making personal appearances.

The pictures – above and below – were taken at the Gaumont in Gainsborough, but really could have been taken anywhere at because this would be typical of cinema life at that time.

Surprising and pleasing to see just how many staff were employed there – and below just how many children attended these shows – and loved them no doubt

I have a good friend who did briefly work in the Cinemas in Whitby in the mid to late 60 s. His main base was the Waterloo Cinema in the town – now one of the most popular seaside resorts in the country

He worked for a short time at the Waterloo Cinema. It was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in June 1968, and after refurbishment, was renamed Ritz Cinema.

Sadly, like so many, The Ritz Cinema was closed by 1980.

Whitby Cinemas BELOW

My friend, who would have just left school at the time, when he worked at The Waterloo Cinema told me that one of his tasks had been to stoke up the boiler and keep the place warm – but he said that sometimes he would really get the maximum heat he could which resulted in more ice cream sales – at least that was the theory

ABOVE – A great Walt Disney line-up. This would really pull in the cystomers

Another Cinema is a small town was the Rio in Epworth, again in Lincolnshire.

I did actually go to this one to see ‘Barabbas’ with Anthony Quinn – which I thought was one of the very best of the bis ‘epic’ productions

The Rio Cinema – ABOVE – opened in November 1938 with a performance of “No No Nanette” by the Epworth Operatic Society.

The first film to be shown at the cinema was “Rosalie” starring Nelson Eddy & Eleanor Powell. It had a 24ft wide proscenium and was equipped with a Duosonic sound system.

It also hosted concerts with top stars such as Shirley Bassey and Billy J. Kramer.

The man most associated with the cinema was Sidney Yorke. The cinema was badly damaged by fire on 1st June 1978, although it is believed to have stopped screening films the previous May. It was later demolished and replaced by housing.