* * Mrs Thelma Born to Mr Gregg (Management Retirement Guide) * Article submitted for publication * Transcribed by Jamie Terrill

[Address redacted] [Telephone number redacted] Feb 10

The Dr Editor,

Management Retirement Guide.

Dear Mr Gregg,

I am forwarding you an article named “THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF THE CINEMA”, which I am sure would interest your readers. I find there is a good deal of nostalgia among mature folk for this particular part of earlier years.

All details are entirely authentic, I enclose an endorsement of the fact that I am well qualified to have written this article.

There is a sepia photograph dated 1922 of this orchestra, if you might like to use it.

Please enjoy, hoping to hear from you.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs Thelma Born

Pen Name Willard

S.A.E enclosed

1080 Words First British Serial Rights

THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF THE CINEMA

Do you miss going to the cinema? No I dont mean the multi screened ones of today, which seem much more like recording studios specialising in sensationalism. No, I mean the hey day of your local cinema. It might have been a plushy super cinema, which seem then to be the ultimate in luxury, or a much less impressive little ‘flea pit’ type of hall that you patronised?

Whichever it was, I’m sure like millions of others, you have found nostalgic memories of those days. Having been born into the business and after a lifetimes (sic) association with it, I am a dedicated ‘film buff’. My parents were both members of what was known as ‘THE EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE ORCHESTRA’, providing background music for silent films. My father played the violin and my mother the kettle drums.

The popular image of one man plonking away on th (sic) piano is not strictly accurate. This six piece orchestra ran through every film first, before carefully selecting appropriate music. My earliest ever recollection is of being carried into what was the second talking picture AL JOLSON in “THE SINGING FOOL’ I was mystified? Why were all the people crying, but the new miracle of sound plus the sign of Jolson down on one knee singing “SONNY BOY” was emotionally overwhelming.

mf

Not only the audience were affected, when my father happened to go up to the operating box, during that first showing, he discovered the chief operator standing beside his projector with tearing down his face.

When all the ballyhoo and the excitement of the ‘talkies’ had died down, the sad fact remained that hundreds of musicians were now out of work. We were lucky, my father had the good fortune to secure a cinema managers job in Cornwall. At first glance the cinema resembled a Russia mosque with its rounded turrets, it was perched picturesquely on the top of a cliff overlooking a golden beach.

He however had no time to admire the view! These were challenging and exciting times for the film industry and a lot of hard work would be needed to get the public in regular weekly cinema going habits. He threw himself wholeheartedly into his new vocation.

Those were the days of , , and , with his stock phrase “Oh calamity’. I wonder if anyone reading this can recall the delicious British comedy ‘’, which starred this trio?

mf

Later on Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtnedge, then Jesse Matthews all emerged into the limelight and became big musical comedy stars, of British films.

Film scripts in those days never allowed the ‘baddy’ to win. Crooks were eventually shown behind bars, kitted out in striped suits. Murderers always paid the ultimate penalty and erring husbands, in the end always returned to their wives.!

I have so often seen my father down on his knees backstage, painting publicity posters for some special attraction. Later he thought up clever stunts to attract people away from the beach, and into the cinema. On one particular occasion, to advertise a comedy called ‘HEAVENS ABOVE’, he and two male members of staff paraded the town dressed in full clerical gear, one of them carrying a sandwich board advertising the film.

After a most successful tour of the town, as it had been a very warm day, they deposited the board outside a pub and went inside to enjoy some well earned pints. Being so thirsty they were inclined to forget that they were dressed as clergymen, until a few shocked glances reminded them of the fact!

mf

Returning to the cinema, the other two went back to work. But my father had spotted a disturbance on the car park of the cinema. Two irrate motorists were engaged in a very heated dispute over parking that looked as if it might well end in blows at any moment!

He hurried forwards and quickly became embroiled in the furore. One of the motorists looked as if he were on the verge of apoplexy. Catching sight of my fathers attire he demanded irritably. “Who asked you to poke your nose into this Padre? Clear off, this is not a religious (sic) matter”.

My fathers (sic) highly embarrassed explanation cause caused so much hilarious laughter, from everyone, that their earlier annoyance with each other was soon forgotten. The star system was producing some winners. Audiences warmed to the fresh charm and lovely voice of Deanna Durbin, she became a mega star at the age of only fifteen and still today she is not forgotten by her many fans. The elusive Garbo was unique, there has never ever been her equal. She and Deanna Durbin both walked away from Hollywood at the height of their fame and in spite of all the tempting offers neither has ever returned.

mf

Marlene shed her glamorous image to play a gypsy in the film GOLDEN EARRINGS, with Ray milland (sic) as her leading man. She lives in Paris and sadly has been confined to a wheelchair for a number of years. Rumour has it that she was sewn into her stage gowns by her dressed, This made walking difficult and a fall from stage ended her career.

There were some wonderful screen couples. Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire were admired and adored by millions. Fred was an ultra perfectionist and spent hour after hour getting a step just the way he wanted it. Ginger had her work cut out keeping up with him.

Myrna Loy and William Powell were a ‘smooth pair, she with her pert nose and charm, he with his sophisticated wit. With the Asta, they began the successful ‘THIN MAN’ series in 1936, their relationship was amiable off screen as it was on.

This was certainly not the case with Jeanette Macdonald and Nelson Eddy, although their voices blended so perfectly and they looked so well together. They detested each other. He flatly refused to attend her funeral even for appearances sake

mf

The cinema played a large part in keeping people’s spirits lifted in the grey days of the second world war. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in the “ROAD’ series of films were providing a much needed tonic for cinema goers.

Always when Winston Churchill was shown on the news reels giving his famous Victory V sign. A ripple of hope would spread over the entire audience.

Even in those hard pressed days it took three projectionists and a rewind boy to run a projection box. Three sometimes four large heavy tins were required to contain a feature film. Now it is the size of a handbag and one man can slot in as many of ten films for different screens. WE sit in our own homes and watch videos of our own choice……. but something vital has been lost. That essential ingredient audience participation. Sharing laughter and sometimes tears, with a large audience ,,,,,,,,,,, adds that champagne touch, to entertainment.

Thelma Willard

1080 words.