Reel Memories

His mother Irene was an usher, and his father Bernard worked up in the projection room and john was brought along to watch the shows and even lent a hand…

“There was a circus here in the 1940s. I’m sure it was Chipperfield’s Circus. They had to reinforce the stage as they had baby elephants and Shetland ponies – it was my job to lead the ponies out – sometimes we could ride them too!” John smiles. “It’s virtually exactly the same as it was when I was a child,” says John gesturing at the Victorian upper circle which is intricately decorated with gold paint.

“There are some of the differences – in my day we had chandeliers hanging down – I had to change all the bulbs! “I worked with my father Bernard in the projection box and I saw lots of films with him. In those days everyone smoked so I would be sitting watching the film and he’d come out and tap me on the shoulder and get me on the projector so he could have a cigarette!

“We’ve had films that set on fire because in those days, the films were highly flammable and the lighting was carbon arcs – the film would jam and get too hot. You’d have to rip it out and there’d be film all over the floor – you’d get a lot of booing and shouting of ‘put the penny in’!”

Now, instead of showing the films, John’s hobby is making them. He can often be found behind a camera in the upper circle, filming the productions. He also filmed a trick by the famous illusionist Faust – an illusion called Find the Lady.

“I have footage that shows how the trick was done,”

“We set the illusion up – it took a week – at the time they also had a film company in here that was doing a film on his life. The film company weren’t allowed to come in until Faust arrived in the morning. I could come and go. The guys kept saying, ‘well, how come you can go backstage and we’re not allowed?’ I had no idea! He wouldn’t let them go anywhere. I have footage that shows how the trick was done,” John says with a sparkle in his eye, but he’d never tell. “I never even told my wife how it was done! The film I made went to the magician David Copperfield.”

Filmmaking is a hobby he shared with his wife Margaret, who sadly passed away in 2019. Now, his grandson Lewis intends to follow in his grandparents’ footsteps. “Lewis and I were talking at the last show. He said, ‘you know grandad, you and Grandma have set up a legacy with your filming – what’s going to happen when you’re not here to do it?’ He asked if he could carry it all on.” John beams.

“I bought a cinema screen in her memory.”

“Up until last year I was Chairman of the Pendle Movie Makers, but it just got too much. I was involved in quite a few organisations and the only one I’ve kept on is the Theatre. It means a lot to me with all the family involved.” It’s clear that John is rightly proud of all the work he and his family have put into the theatre, but as well as his time, he has also provided the Hippodrome with a cinema screen.

“They were using an old-fashioned cinema screen with marks all over it. We used to go to the secret cinema night here and my wife Margaret kept saying, ‘they need a new screen!’ Of course, they couldn’t afford one. When she passed away, I bought a cinema screen in her memory.” The cinema screen will introduce a new generation to the wonder of cinema at Pendle Hippodrome and will continue the legacy of John’s family at the theatre.

ColneLife Autumn 22