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telephonist, wireless operator and come in dozens, … I’ll Be Your Some people evacuated to a safe area
chorus girl and were sent to training Sweetheart for two and nine.” used to write to me wishing they could
theatres. Ten percent stuck to it. Asked to reflect on the worst times, be back in the old Granada again.” The
There were many reasons why they the managers agreed that the behavior manager of the Empire Edmonton
left, apart from the call-up. Often the of audiences improved during the war. said that many patrons had told him
reasons were domestic – husbands of The manager ceased to be the butt of that they have never missed a week at
trainees and wives of operators often every shilling customer who feels he the Empire during the whole war.
objected strongly to the employment of has bought the house. People “You could tell the time of day and the
women in operating boxes; some appreciated what was done for them, day of the week by the way the same
didn’t like the monotony, but those that they learned to know and trust their folk came to the pictures right
stayed were excellent at it. Their manager and to put a tremendous faith throughout the war.” ★
ability to concentrate for long periods in their cinemas. “We became a Adapted from Red Roses Every Night:
to the light on the screen, the detail of brotherhood of the blitz.” Another An Account of London Cinemas Under
trimming an arc, and the adjustment of manager said, “The blitz seemed to Fire By Guy Morgan. Quality Press
sound made them excellent give people a great air of possession 1948.
projectionists, while sensitive touch and affection for their cinema. Source and concept by Fred Page.
and patience made them naturally good
at re-winding and film maintenance. At
the time of writing (1948) 20 women
operators are still in the employ of
Granada theatres, ten have now had
five to six years experience, and one
was acting chief operator for a period
of six months.
Cinema doormen had their part to
play in the blitz. To manage a queue
with no torch and shrapnel tinkling
was no picnic, especially for older
men, and there are few Granadas today
that cannot muster at least two
septuagenarians on the front door. The
oldest doorman at the end of the war
was 85. Doormen, by virtue of their
uniforms and daily contact with
customers occupy a position of local
importance and trust.

Doorman Henry Hall of Granada,
Walthamstow (pictured above) never
wore a steel helmet throughout the
blitz, “Bad for morale.” Master of tag
and rhyme, he made it his business to
keep his queues in good humour
whatever the conditions overhead.
Walthamstow patrons knew by heart By 1942 British features showed a nation fighting back. In Melbourne these films
his rhymed couplets linked to current usually went into the Athenaeum. On this occasion it was British both sides of the
film titles, “Bring your aunts and bring street. The Regent was screening Noel Coward’s In Which We Serve.
your cousins, come in crowds and Image: New Screen News 24 June 1943. Source: Ron Lowe Collection.

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