The Pictures, Street Games Options

[big tommy]

Street games were all the rage during the summer months. We would play all night after school until darkess put an end to it all.

For news and indoor entertainment there was the wireless or radio. We listened to lots of great programmes when we were indoors, like "Journey to the Moon":- Dick Barton, and on a Saturday night it was a rush home to listen to "The Jack Jackson Radio Show". Then of course there was "The Dancin'".

But, for sheer entertainment and escapism there was nothing to beat a night at "The Pictures". Cinemas were ten a penny so we were never stuck and although most cinemas had queues we simply stood in any old queue and hoped it was a good film.

Any film would do, as long as it was not a British film. Some of these were absolute rubbish, at least for us kids they were, who were brought up on a diet of cowboy films starring John Wayne, Hopalong Cassiday, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and gangster films with the likes of James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G Robinson.

But the daddy of them all was Errol Flynn. The very first film I was allowed to see on my own was also the first film in technicolour I had seen was "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in the Grand cinema in Cowcaddens Street. As it was a continuous performance I stayed in to watch it three times. My poor mother was frantic. I was in there for nearly six hours. A good clip round the ears soon cured me of doing it again. The rule of thumb was that you always went out at the part you came in.

After that, the world was my oyster. From where I lived there was a cinema within 250 yards in any direction and I was allowed to go journey to all of them.

The Cambridge in New City Road , up to the Grand in Cowcaddens Street, the Star and the Phoenix in Garscube Road, the Magnet and the Astoria both in Possil Road, down North Woodside Road to the Seamore, up to the Roxy and the Blythswood both in Maryhill Road, back down to the Electric Picture Palace (or the Electric as it was better known), also in Maryhill Road but a pure dump, and last but not least, on to the Gem in Great Western Road which was bit more "up-market" but well worth the visit.

So there was never an excuse to be bored, there was always something to do and enjoyment to be had.

Tommy

[a menzies]

hey there tommy.i just hate to inform you that the cambridge was on the new city road (not cambridge st.but i am purty sure you will be told other tan by me.not being a spoil sport just that you are talking about the place i love most dearly.archie from scotia st nr.gayfield st.

[George Muir]

Here is the "Cambridge" cinema, painted by the famous tram painter B. Stirling

[big tommy]

Hello a menzies

Sorry .of course it was New City Road .jist a mis type on my part .
Tommy

[big tommy]

By the way A menzies
My 2 best pals came from Gayfield Street .Number 8 I think .
John MacNamee and Jmmy Mc Nairn .Mc Nairn now lives in Montrose ,dont know where Mc Namee finished up .
I also went out a couple of time with a girl fron Gayfield St. Her name was Barbara ..sometthing or other
Tommy

[mrssnuffy]

First time I went tae the pictures was at Paisley Road Toll, The IUmperial, now the Grand Ole Oprey. I got in with Jeelie Jaur!!!

[TeeHeeHee]

We'd collect enuff jeely jaurs to get one or two in ... who'd go to the toilet and open the fire door tae let the rest of us in.