T H E H I S T O R Y O F T H E U S H E R E T T E

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Cameron Bradford
6 years ago
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T E I S T O R Y O F T E U S E R E T T E 2.

Portsmouth (c.1910s) 3. Florence Wall (c.

1 T E I S T O R Y O F T E U S E R E T T E 2. Foyer of The Savoy (ABC) Commercial Road. Portsmouth (1936) 1. The Picture ouse, Commercial Road Portsmouth (c.1910s) 3. Florence Wall (c.1940s). Florence was an usherette at The Ambassador, Cosham. The Carlton, Cosham and The Plaza, Bradford Junction, Portsmouth, approximately.

T E I S T O R Y O F T E U S E R E T T E 4.

Portsmouth, (1933) Molly Rowe is in the centre of the

girl. Molly worked at The Regent/ Gaumont and The

as a chocolate girl, and usherette, a cashier and a

1940s) Molly Rowe, front row, far right. 5.

1940s) Molly Rowe, front row, far right. 6.

1940s) Florence is far right, back row of the group 10.

2 T E I S T O R Y O F T E U S E R E T T E 4. Staff at The Regent/Gaumont London Road, North End, Portsmouth, (1933) Molly Rowe is in the centre of the image dressed in white denoting she was an ice-cream girl. Molly worked at The Regent/ Gaumont and The Odeon, London Road, North End, Portsmouth, as a chocolate girl, and usherette, a cashier and a secretary. Staff at The Regent/Gaumont. (c.1940s) Molly Rowe, front row, far right. 5. The Regent/Gaumont. (c.1940s) Molly Rowe, front row, far right. 6. Vera Ayres with friend (1942) 8. Florence Wall and friends on (c.1940s) Florence is far left of the group 9. Florence Wall and friends on (c.1940s) Florence is far right, back row of the group 10. Molly Rowe as cashier at The Regent/Gaumont (c.1940s) 11. Florence Wall and friends on (c.1940s) Florence is in the centre of the group 12. Florence Wall and friends on (c.1940s) Florence is far left 13. Staff photo (unknown) (c.1940s) 7. Vera Ayres wearing the uniform of The Ambassador cinema Cosham, Portsmouth (1942). Vera worked at The Ambassador as an usherette,

3 T E I S T O R Y O F T E U S E R E T T E 14. Usherette engaged in unusual task (c.1940/50s) 15. Staff presentation (c. 1960s) 16. Palace Cinema, Salisbury (c.1920s) 17. Usherettes giving gifts to schoolchildren (c.1940s/50s) 18. Staff presentation (c. 1940s/50s) 19. Staff at The Regent/Gaumont (c.1940s) Molly Rowe, third left, front row. 20. Staff enjoying cake (c.1940s/50s) 21. Off duty staff (c.1940/50s)

T E I S T O R Y O F T E U S E R E T T E 23. Usherette greeting starlet (c.1950s) 22. The Electric Cinema Muswell ill (c. 1913) 24. The foyer of the Troxy cinema, Stepney, London (c.1930s) 25.

Marilyn Monroe promoting the film East of Eden (1955) Images 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 reproduced courtesy of The Cinema Theatre Association. (www.cinema-theatre.org.

Permission was granted to allow them to be published. They are now part of Eva s personal research.

Unfortunately the majority of the collection is undated and no information is provided as to which cinema they were taken. The material is affectionately known as, The Maurice Cheepin file.

e spent most time of his time at the Troxy Stepney and most of the images come from that cinema.

4 T E I S T O R Y O F T E U S E R E T T E 23. Usherette greeting starlet (c.1950s) 22. The Electric Cinema Muswell ill (c. 1913) 24. The foyer of the Troxy cinema, Stepney, London (c.1930s) 25. Miss Cinema Usherette (1955) 26. Marilyn Monroe promoting the film East of Eden (1955) Images 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 reproduced courtesy of The Cinema Theatre Association. ( Images 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 were obtained from the personal collections of Florence Wall, Molly Rowe and Vera Ayres when Eva interviewed them. Permission was granted to allow them to be published. They are now part of Eva s personal research. These images come from a collection of material held at the Cinema Theatre Association s archive ( Unfortunately the majority of the collection is undated and no information is provided as to which cinema they were taken. The material is affectionately known as, The Maurice Cheepin file. Maurice Cheepin managed a number of London s largest cinemas such as the Gaumont State Kilburn, the Trocadero Elephant and Castle and the Troxy Stepney. e spent most time of his time at the Troxy Stepney and most of the images come from that cinema. e was a real Showman in the tradition of the travelling fairground that needed to undertake stunts and attractions to encourage attendances at the show. All cinema managers were expected to do this sort of thing, as well as managing the cinema. Maurice Cheepin is regarded as one of the most creative and all staff were expected to engage with this, including the usherette. I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into the world of the cinema usherette. This is an ongoing research project. If you can contribute to it, I would be delighted to hear from you. I am particularly interested in speaking with former and current cinema usherettes and cinema workers. I am also collating memories and recollections from cinema- goers from the past and the present. Please contact me at loveusherettes@gmail.com Telephone Eva Balogh

5 St ars in t he Aisles TE ISTORY OF TE USERETTE

6 St ars in t he Aisles TE ISTORY OF TE USERETTE All Usherette quotes postcards available from the Kings Theatre foyer, priced 50p. Photographic reprints of the exhibition images are available to purchase from Eva Balogh at loveusherettes@gmail.com. Proceeds will go towards supporting the Kings Theatre and furthering the research of this project.

Liverpool Empire Theatre Visual Story A visual resource for people with Autism Spectrum Condition visiting the theatre.

Liverpool Empire Theatre Visual Story A visual resource for people with Autism Spectrum Condition visiting the theatre. This resource is intended to help prepare visitors for a new experience and to help