I was one of the three trainees on the last course for assistant managers starting at the Gaumont State in August 1971. Upon completion I transferred to the Odeon Uxbridge, and then in early 1972 Bill Weir (later manager of the Odeon Leicester Square) who had trained me, requested my return to the State to take over as his AUBM (Assistant Unit Business Manager, i.e. senior of two assistant managers).
Our employer, to be very precise, was Rank Leisure Services Ltd – Theatre Division. We tended to look down our noses somewhat at Top Rank Club Division, whose entrance was in Willesden Lane!
We had one screen, and the traditional Saturday morning children’s show. I once got tangled in the tabs (curtains) on stage and fell over, to great applause. That incident was chronicled in the ‘Kilburn Times’, whose film critic happened to be present collecting material for an article. I have the clipping still.
Four weeks of musicals a year courtesy of the Hornsey Operatic and Harrow Light Opera, who had to transfer to us from the Odeon Golders Green when it ceased to be single screen. I was always told we had the second largest stage in Europe after Drury Lane. Then the ‘Gang Show’ and the fascinating Ralph Reader with his tales of working as a ‘hoofer’ with Jimmy, George and Joan (Cagney, Raft and Crawford). Cinema organ concerts on Bank Holidays.
Walking out of the theatre at night via the stalls and pitch black backstage area illuminated by dim security lights and an usherette’s torch and hoping not to get mugged in the large dark car park after exiting via the stage door.
Getting thumped by a customer – just once.
Memories!
Sorry, I have contributed absolutelynothing about architecture or anything else of relevance, but this place was an important part of my life for a while.
I was one of the three trainees on the last course for assistant managers starting at the Gaumont State in August 1971. Upon completion I transferred to the Odeon Uxbridge, and then in early 1972 Bill Weir (later manager of the Odeon Leicester Square) who had trained me, requested my return to the State to take over as his AUBM (Assistant Unit Business Manager, i.e. senior of two assistant managers).
Our employer, to be very precise, was Rank Leisure Services Ltd – Theatre Division. We tended to look down our noses somewhat at Top Rank Club Division, whose entrance was in Willesden Lane!
We had one screen, and the traditional Saturday morning children’s show. I once got tangled in the tabs (curtains) on stage and fell over, to great applause. That incident was chronicled in the ‘Kilburn Times’, whose film critic happened to be present collecting material for an article. I have the clipping still.
Four weeks of musicals a year courtesy of the Hornsey Operatic and Harrow Light Opera, who had to transfer to us from the Odeon Golders Green when it ceased to be single screen. I was always told we had the second largest stage in Europe after Drury Lane. Then the ‘Gang Show’ and the fascinating Ralph Reader with his tales of working as a ‘hoofer’ with Jimmy, George and Joan (Cagney, Raft and Crawford). Cinema organ concerts on Bank Holidays.
Walking out of the theatre at night via the stalls and pitch black backstage area illuminated by dim security lights and an usherette’s torch and hoping not to get mugged in the large dark car park after exiting via the stage door.
Getting thumped by a customer – just once.
Memories!
Sorry, I have contributed absolutelynothing about architecture or anything else of relevance, but this place was an important part of my life for a while.