Film choice was out of this world
In the summer of 1955, one of the main pastimes for children was a Saturday afternoon visit to the pictures.
There wasn’t a lot of money around in those days and, after a tough week at school, it was definitely something to look forward to.
Paisley was awash with movie houses then, so the choice for children was immense.
“Where to trade in your jam jar for entrance to the flicks?”was the question on the lips of most youngsters before they went to sleep on the Friday night.
In June of the year in question, Paisley’s Astoria Picture House was doing everything in its power to stay ahead of the competition.
Most youngsters who frequented the Lawn Street picture house were members of the Spaceship Club and, on one Saturday in particular, they were given a great surprise.
The manager of the Astoria, Mr Wallis, arranged a special children’s matinee, and a local concert party put on a variety show.
But that was nothing compared with what was to follow.
The youngsters raised the roof when St Mirren star John McGrory appeared on stage. He presented badges to members of the Spaceship Club and stood chatting to the thrilled kids.
But the Astoria was just one of the many cinemas in Paisley in the days before the computer age was king.
The Kelburne was also popular, and was showing Ginger Rogers and George Raft in The Black Widow. There were three performances daily and the film was showing in De Luxe Colour – and in Cinemascope!
For adults, The Stooge, starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, was on at the Astoria, while John Garfield and the Dead End Kids could be seen in They Made Me A Criminal.
The La Scala, at Paisley Cross, which also housed a top restaurant, was showing Simba, starring Dirk Bogarde and Donald Sinden. Walt Disney’s Pinocchio was the Saturday matinee.
The West End Cinema had FOUR films on in the same week – and this was in the days before the multiplex.
Howard Keel was in The Star Said No; Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck were wowing cinema-goers in To Please A Lady, and Two Nights in Brooklyn starred William Bendix. For the kids, Laurel and Hardy starred in Saps At Sea.
The Globe, in Johnstone, was also a thriving picture house. It was showing
Sitting Bull – in Eastman Colour.
The big film at the Regal Cinema, in Paisley, was The Constant Husband, which starred Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall.
The Picture House, which was in Paisley High Street, was showing all-time classic flick, Vera Cruz. The film starred Burt Lancaster and Gary Cooper.
Scottish-born star Deborah Kerr was the star of Please Believe Me, which was showing at the New Alex, in Neilston Road.
How about that for choice?