The Electric Picture Palace in Southwold not only has a uniformed commissionaire supervising the audience, who dutifully queue outside before admission, but an intermission (Blockbuster or bladderburster? Why movie intermissions must return – now!, 21 March) during which an organist rises from below to entertain those queueing to buy comestibles from the ice-cream girl with a tray in the auditorium. Sherry can be purchased from the foyer.
The programme has an A and a B film, both introduced from the stage. At the end of the evening, a silver dish is passed along the rows of seats and people are requested to deposit their sweet wrappings etc in it before the national anthem plays and everyone stands to sing along enthusiastically. If the projector breaks down, song sheets are passed around.
This is all a little different to the 1960s, when, in my local fleapit in Newmarket, there was always a mad rush to get out quickly before “the Queen” began – and if caught trying to escape, you were given a sound telling off and banned from the next show by the commissionaire.
Stephanie Garrett
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
• The Woolton Picture House in Liverpool gave nearly every film an interval. Around halfway through the running time the film would grind to a stop, the house lights would go up and the ice-cream stall would be illuminated. The film would not restart until all snack needs had been met. The cinema has not reopened after lockdown and is much missed.
Jean Davies
Liverpool
• I remember going to the cinema in the 1970s and being asked by the usher if we wanted to sit in “smoking or non smoking”. As if it made a difference. Thank goodness times have changed.
Sukie Glynne
London
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