Comments from Dennis Thomas

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Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Mar 27, 2016 at 5:33 am

Hello Jimcleary Sorry I only just saw your post,yes I remember your dad,a Irish chap?,I can still see him in my mind after all the time. He did indeed leave in late 64 early 65,and I think he was the 3rd projectionist then?. I did meet my wife there,we were married for 24 years had two kids,but sadly are no longer together. I started in late November 64 as a 15 year old so just had time to get to know your dad a little. I am a pensioner now. :) :(

Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Nov 2, 2015 at 5:27 am

Hello Jim, Chief of course refers to chief projectionist,there was 2nd and 3rd projectionist as well. I wonder what jobs did your parents do there?,I worked there from the end of 64 to the late 69 as a projectionist. George the ‘chief’ retired while I was there.

Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on May 3, 2015 at 6:10 am

To ‘harryrig’ thank you for the projection box picture,very interesting,certainly had changed since I last worked there in 1969. Looks like they moved to a tower system before it closed then?.

Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Jan 23, 2013 at 1:35 am

OK Carla,sorry about the gender slip up :)yes it was all a long time ago now,but there are still people around who worked with George,so he is still remembered outside his family. It was nice to make contact with you here,take care.

Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Jan 21, 2013 at 2:51 am

Hi Carl, Great to hear from you,I remember your grandpa George. I started at the cinema as a fifteen year old,and George,the chief projectionist seemed so old to me then,now I am that sort of age myself :(.

George was a great guy,I got on well with him,he retired,while I was there,and Larry took over as chief.

As for Larry being a good looking man?,well he never did anything for me:), but he was also a decent man to work with. Do you know when George started at the Forum?,don’t think I ever had the nerve to ask him.

Its great that you found this site,so pleased to hear from you.

Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Dec 15, 2012 at 8:10 am

OK Colin,
Thanks for that,I knew of couse that there ‘was’ an organ there,and note above that it was only removed in 1955,but had no idea that it had been used relatively recently,when I was there.

I wish you well trying to contact others that worked at the Forum around the time you were there,one never knows who may pop up on here.

I have,thanks to this site and Facebook, been able to re-establish contact with three guys ‘projectionists'that I worked with,over forty years ago. One of them I talk to on Skype a couple of times a week now.

Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Dec 13, 2012 at 3:11 am

Hi Colin The early 1950s were a bit ‘too’ early for me :) I started there late 64 to late 69,and was a trainee projectionist. I also met my future wife there I remember George Mottram,as chief,and also Larry French,Larry took over as chief during my time there,when George retired..

One thing that puzzles me though Colin, an organist in 1950 really? I thought that was a silent cinema era thing?. Dennis Thomas

Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Jun 12, 2012 at 2:41 pm

Hi Mike, Yes indeed I did have a little beard :) so that was almost certainly me.

I remember Jock,also of course, John Brockington,and Larry French, John Constable, James Dunscombe, and after James left,a guy younger than me Peter Hall.

My future wife was very young then,long black hair,you maybe remember her.

In recent years I have regained some limited contact with John Brockington and James Dunscombe,via Facebook.

With ref to Peter Hall,we talk via Skype once or twice a week,so it’s great to know that some of us are still around,kind of reassuring as we get older.

If you ever track down that picture with me? in it,along with John and Larry,please mail me a copy,that would be great.

          Dennis               
                
Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Jun 12, 2012 at 9:54 am

Hello Mike,as a young projectionist at the ABC New Street end of 1964/to late 1969,I have no memory at all of Joan Cooks?.

I remember a rather attractive,‘I thought’ woman called Francis/Frances? who was a cashier.

I remember Mr Simmons the manager,and a young manager, Peter Matthews who went on to work in TV/radio? forget now.
I met my ‘wife to be'there,Christine,she was a cashier.

I left after a clash with a new manager that had started, called Percy Freeman ?? or whatever his name was,I know what I called him,but would not print it here :)

Thanks for the pictures,

                      Dennis Thomas....
                
Dennis Thomas
Dennis Thomas commented about ABC New Street on Oct 13, 2007 at 8:46 am

I started work at the ABC New Street in 1964, as a projectionist, i was just 15 years old at the time.
I worked there for about five years, and met my wife to be there, as well, she was a cashier.
Happy memories.
Dennis Thomas…..