Document three

Memories of an usherette

I worked at the Granada Cinema in Spital Street c.1957-8 and was equipped with a uniform which comprised of a blue and gold satin top, trousers, cape and pill-box hat... One incident I recall, happened on a summer evening when the film 'Titanic' was being screened. During the course of the film there was a sudden flash-flood which soon flooded the front part of the auditorium. Patrons viewing the film were asked to move to the seats at the rear. The water continued to enter the cinema and people then had to be moved to the gallery. All during this excitement the film continued to be screened, but patrons were becoming hysterical as to the depth of water in the cinema! On Sundays local musicians were invited to play during the interval and the cinema also used to relay messages from troops serving abroad.

PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF MRS. E. BELSEY (NEW ASH GREEN)