At one time Worcester had a number of cinemas throughout town, together with one in St John’s, now sadly derelict and the Northwick Cinema, now in use as an antiques centre.
Town centre had a number of too – the Scala in Angel Place, the Arcade Cinema in St Swithun’s Avenue ,which closed when the Gaumont was in-built 1935 and naturally the Odeon, nonetheless in Foregate Avenue at this time.
I used to be contacted this week by Mick Purser, who often attended the Teenager Present on the Odeon on a Saturday morning.
He shared his story of a barely completely different expertise – his quarter-hour of fame on the stage of the cinema!
The Odeon cinema in 1961, displaying So Evil, So Younger, starring Ellen Pollock and John Charlesworth. Subsequent door was Helen Jay, maternity put on
The Teenager Present was a particular viewing each week, for native youngsters, and a band would carry out earlier than the viewing of the movie.
It was a preferred occasion, with queues all the way in which down the road, and Mick fondly remembered sitting within the packed stalls ready for a movie starring his idol, Invoice Fury.
One week in 1961, Mick was sitting together with his two buddies Andy and Nick, when there was a name for volunteers.
Read more: Who remembers Worcester’s dance halls and studios?
They had been provided a free ice cream and a go for the subsequent week’s displaying, if they’d mannequin some garments for the viewers! All three lads volunteered.
Mick recalled: “In these days all of us dressed just like the Fonz in a leather-based jacket, denims with turn-ups and winklepicker boots. The Teenager Present was a little bit of a spotlight for youths; aside from a paper spherical there wasn’t a lot else to do”.
Maggs ‘Mens & Boys Clothes specialists’, The Shambles in round 1960. The store staged a trend present on the Odeon
It turned out that Maggs clothes store based mostly on The Shambles, had organized a brief trend present for the packed auditorium. Then aged solely 14, Mick was a little bit nervous: “It was a bit daunting stepping out on to the stage with the highlight on us, however we received a little bit of a cheer and the individual in cost requested us to offer them a twirl.
“I feel there have been a few outfits to indicate; a leather-based jacket, a pullover and completely different colored denims.”
The Scala Theatre, on the nook of Angel Place and Angel Avenue in 1951
What an expertise! Does anybody else bear in mind these teen exhibits? Or maybe you shopped at Maggs on your college uniform or extra modern put on?
Worcester Life Tales is a collaborative venture bringing native folks collectively by way of shared tales of the Metropolis of Worcester. It’s co-led by Dr Natasha Lord, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Well being and Care NHS Belief and Sheena Payne-Lunn, Worcester Metropolis Council and funded due to Nationwide Lottery gamers.
For additional data or to share your tales go to worcesterlifestories.org.uk, our Fb web page or Twitter @worlifestories. It’s also possible to e-mail worcesterlifestories@gmail.com or name 01905 721133.
There are additionally many recollections are additionally being shared on the We grew up in Worcester page on Facebook. Why not be a part of the dialog?
