Document two

Going to the pictures

As a young child my sister and I used to go to the old Rialto in Lowfield Street. This was mum's treat for us on Saturday mornings. It was twopence-halfpenny to go in and a penny for sweets which we got at Skilton's sweet shop which was opposite the Rialto. We used to queue up for hours to get in; also, we were made to behave ourselves by the man who let us in ten at a time. The film we saw was a serial each week; we would be watching, and it would be just as you got excited when we were told, 'to be continued next week'. The actors and actresses I remember seeing were mostly Pearl White, Eddie Polo, the Gish sisters and John Boles. I also used to go there with my husband later when we were courting.

I remember the Gem cinema which was also quite a walk to it and not so big as the Rialto, but the films were good. Also the Scala I visited to see the first talking picture 'If I had a talking picture of you' with Charles Jarret and Janet Janor, it was packed!

PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF MRS. R. WILLIAMS (SUTTON-AT-HONE).