roobarb hopester.hi.the empire was fab. granddad and grandma etherington were the owners.i used to go two or three times a week if u got in free would,nt u.there were wood benches infront of the stalls costing a tanna or sixpence in old money.circle seats at back. if the film snapped ,it often did ,we used to stamp our feet till we were kept in check by uncle ralph or jim. I used to go with my dad bill to the projection room. the projectors seamed huge to me. we watched the films being rewound ,I helped my dad shovel coke into the boiler house around the back.most films at that time were black and white ,the three stooges, bowery boys , tarzan and the apes. cowboys in colour were great. my mother hilda was the icecream lady ,free lolly as well fab.with tv the cinema declined ralph and jim diversified ,dances ,out door concerts not to successful.the etherington family were wonderful ,gran grandad ralph jim edna ethel Beatrice my mam hilda I miss them all.hopester roobarb I hope you know you have made me feel sad.wonderful days.evexpat.
