Throwback Thursday: The day the circus came to Hamilton Odeon in 1952

Our recent story about the 20th anniversary of the closure of Hamilton’s Odeon brought back some memories for reader Mary Wilson.

Her mum, Margaret Burns or McDowall, worked at the cinema as an ice-cream girl during the intermissions.

And she is pictured in the centre here helping to promote Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth in 1952.

The drama starred Charlton Heston and was set in Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Mary (73) has fond memories of the cinema, and said: “I used to go with a jam-jar and a thrupney bit. The jam was your snack.

“We used to go to shows in the afternoon and I remember the ice creams.

“I sat at the back because I was young, and I remember all the shouting.

“There were wee Saturday morning or afternoon clubs that we would go to and that was your entertainment for the day.

“I loved the Odeon, if there was anything special on I always went, and that was the case throughout generations in my family.”

We are going to be digging into our files for more great shots form the past, but if you have any you would like to share, then email news@hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk.

Hamilton Advertiser reader Mary Wilson (73) brought in a photograph showing staff from the Odeon Cinema in Hamilton launching the blockbuster movie, Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth in 1952, which features her mother, Margaret Burns or McDowall, in dead centre, who worked at the cinema as an ice-cream girl. Pic submitted in August 2019. (Mary Wilson)

Cinema-lovers were told they would have to travel further afield to see their favourites as Hamilton Odeon was due to close for good in August 1999. (Hamilton Advertiser)