The staff of movie memories
As Wellington folk went to the flicks years ago, there were people working behind the scenes. And in front of the scenes.
And these pictures of cinema staff from renowned cinema historian the late Fred Brown capture some of those personalities from before, during, and immediately after the war years, which were a golden age for cinemas.
They are just part of Fred's large collection and have come from his daughter, Mrs Lynne Purcell, of Telford.
Fred, who died in 2004 at the age of 80, was not just interested in cinemas – they were a part of his life.
As a youngster he spent many happy hours at the Regal cinema in Hadley enjoying, for the price of just 3d (little over 1p today) the exploits of Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, and Ken Maynard, who were the Western stars of the day, and favourite lady stars Jessie Matthews, Irene Dunne, and Janet Gaynor.
His pleasure became both his work and pleasure as on leaving school at 14 in 1937 he got a job at the Regal as an assistant projectionist at a wage of nine shillings a week.
Fred later moved to the Clifton in Wellington for an extra shilling, remaining there for 24 years as projectionist, finally finishing at the Grand Theatre in Wellington.
Afterwards he became a postman. He wrote books both about local cinemas and pubs and was a fount of knowledge on various aspects of the history of the Wellington area.
Today Wellington is without a cinema, and the Clifton that Fred knew so well is destined to be transformed in a homes and shops development despite a campaign to save it. The facade will be retained.
However there are continuing local efforts to bring the old HSBC bank in the town centre back into use as a community hub, featuring a cafe and cinema, and to be known as Wellington Orbit.
