Cippenham's Cinema

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This is the community discussion for this article. Add your memories, questions and corrections here. Imported historical comments below retain their original author names and dates; they are not newly registered accounts.

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Imported historical comment — Freda (Swan) Loeding — 2018-06-12 22:10:33

I took ballroom dancing lessons with Bill and Rose Phillips. They taught ballroom dancing for years. We loved going to Saturday morning pictures at the Essoldo in the late 50's. I worked for a short time as an Usherette on weekends. While I was working we had a small fire and I had to help evacuate the customers to safety. We even made the news in the Slough Observer. One of my greatest memories was seeing Gone with the Wind at the Essoldo. It was the only cinema that could handle that big of a screen. The lines were so long with people wanting to see this spectacular film.

Original comment #514

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Imported historical comment — Carol Morgan (nee Wood) — 2018-07-31 14:17:15

I went to the Saturday morning cinema and learned ballroom dancing at the Essoldo in 1958 with Bill & Rose Phillips. On 30th June 1961 I went on my first date with Dennis Morgan (now my husband of nearly 54 years), and we saw Carousel. We used to go to the Essoldo regularly and also the Granada and the pop shows at the Aldephi. Most youngsters went to these places and it kept them off the streets.

Original comment #519

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Imported historical comment — Christine Taylor (Marsh) — 2018-08-19 14:28:24

Like Freda, I too had ballroom dancing lessons at the Essoldo and went to Saturday morning pictures there. Loved Cippenham, still do although I live near Aylesbury now, but I often visit as my best friend (of 60 years) still lives there near Asda. I went ot Westgate School, my how it has changed, went to the 40th and 50th reunions, great memories shared there.

Original comment #520

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Imported historical comment — Nigel Furlong — 2019-03-14 21:41:38

In reply to historical comment #520.

Hello Chistine.

I to went to Saturday morning picture. The talking camel?
Westgate as well. 1963 -67
Lived in Moreton Way. Went back there30 years ago and only the park near the motorway was able to rememeber.

Original comment #560

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Imported historical comment — Rick Hall — 2019-07-14 09:10:56

No mention of the coffee bar, where you could get "frothy coffee" in see-through, "Pyrex type" shallow cups and saucers? Much loved by the "Mods" and "Rockers" as a meeting place.

Original comment #570

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Imported historical comment — David Heycock — 2019-07-17 11:56:45

I grew up in Chippenham through the 1950s and the Essoldo was our local cinema. We had many great memories built there particularly the early Disney movies.
The cinema was famous for Saturday morning flicks and for one shilling you gained entry with enough change for an ice lolly on a stick. These sessions showed 10 or 15 short films featuring cartoons and cliff hanger super hero series. Each week finished with some hero about to go down to some calamity or other and you had to be sure to be there the next week to see how he got out of it.
In the early 60s the cinema was used as a bingo hall with the open outcry system and I got a job as a runner. I blew a whistle when someone called out ‘Bingo’ and then had to gather their card and run it up to the compere who would ratify the call and announce the prize. During intermission I sold drinks and ice creams from a tray strapped around my neck.
The Essoldo was a place of magic for me and now after more than 60 years I remember it like it was yesterday. I even dream of it sometimes.

Original comment #572

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Imported historical comment — David Morris — 2019-08-13 14:01:07

Remember seeing “The Robe”” in the early 50s.
The Essoldo was the first cinema in Slough to have CinemaScope with full Stereophonic sound. Wonderful experience.

Original comment #580

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Imported historical comment — Christine Taylor — 2019-08-16 14:06:55

In reply to historical comment #514.

I did too Freda, ballroom dancing and Saturday morning pictures. I remember you from Westgate School, I started there in 1958 when it first opened. I was Christine Marsh then.

Original comment #581

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Imported historical comment — Christine Taylor — 2019-08-16 14:10:40

I lived in Moreton way too, number 60 on the corner by the bus stop. Moved to Slough in 1966.

Original comment #582

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Imported historical comment — Phil — 2019-11-07 21:39:36

The nightclub was called Alexanders around 1980/81. Roy Stewart used to DJ and it had a great Phoenix arcade game!

Original comment #599

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Imported historical comment — Rowland Hayward — 2019-11-28 12:28:28

I lived in Bower Way and the "Essoldo" was my local cinema. Marty Wilde appeared there once. We used to do Saturday morning pictures and when I was in my teens attended on a Sunday afternoon with my pals hoping to meet any girls that may be in there. It had a gents barbers and a ladies hairdressers either side of the entrance at one time.

Original comment #600

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Imported historical comment — David Wiltshire — 2019-12-03 18:41:43

I saw a film there in about 1945, and some of it has stayed in my mind to this day, I would love to know the name of it.
The bit that sticks, is about a group of people in a hut surrounded by Indians with poison arrows or blow pipes. there was a large chest in the hut full of ammunition, which was shown repeatedly as the bullets were used up.

Original comment #603

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Imported historical comment — Geoffrey Ford — 2019-12-05 17:17:42

I lived in Cippenham from 1948 to 1957 when our family of 9 immigrated to Canada. I remember when it was the Commodore and Saturday morning flicks cost 6 pence .

Original comment #604

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Imported historical comment — Nigel Marsh — 2019-12-20 12:20:39

My grandfather was Slough bookie alias Fred Marsh.
He lived at 97 Bower Way from abt 1938 until he died in 1960. I am sure that his son had one of his bookies shops in Cippenham near the Station Rd. Bath Rd. junction in the early/mid 1960s. Can anybody confirm that?

Original comment #607

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Imported historical comment — Clive Buckley — 2020-04-14 10:56:08

Bill and Rose Phillips taught me latin american dancing in the 1960s when they had moved their dance school to the Slough Greyhound Track buildings. If anyone can give me more info about about their ballroom lesson memories of Bill and Rose at the Essoldo I'd be very grateful. I have tried, in vain so far, to find a photo of them dancing together, although they competed in several national championship competitions in the mid-1960s.

Original comment #614

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Imported historical comment — Clive Buckley — 2020-04-15 15:43:15

In reply to historical comment #514.

Hi Freda
Please see my response comments below. I'd be really grateful for any memories you could share with me about Bill and Rose, and your dance lessons. I think the ballroom was really large, so it must have been a great place to dance!

Original comment #615

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Imported historical comment — Christine Taylor — 2020-04-22 15:43:28

In reply to historical comment #560.

Hi Nigel

You are but younger than me, i was at Westgate School from 1958-1962. i lived at No. 60 Moreton Way, right on the crossroads by the bus terminus.

Original comment #617

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Imported historical comment — Pat Dwyer — 2020-12-05 15:58:53

In reply to historical comment #560.

I remember Saturday Morning Pictures there and your brother Leon from Junior School? Think he went to Slough Tech. or Grammar afterwards. Lived in Oldway Lane from 1962

Original comment #656

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Imported historical comment — Nigel marsh — 2021-05-09 00:46:01

In reply to historical comment #519.

Christine could you please tell me how you are related to Marsh ?

Original comment #804