I joined Cinerama when it was in Sheffield, in the early ‘60s, I think I was 18. The name WAS Cinerama not Itinerama and the venue was a 'Big Top’(the centre lock hub weighed 5 tons)and the film that was shown was South Seas Adventure – but NOT as described on the web sites I have visited?? The ‘Windjammer’ plot, plus film of Australia’s outback was what I watched 13 times per week(and loved it, and my favourite music was all ready Grieg’s Piano Concerto)so somewhere the info lines have got crossed.
The screen was I believe 108 feet wide but I forget the height -huge covers it! The tent we were told,cost 1 $million due to the cost of
the fireproof? material. Seating number was enormous and at (laugh)12/6d per seat with 2 shows per day the take was at least 1000 quid I believe.
We wore black guards type daks with double stitched seams, maroon cummerbund and dickiebow, white shirt and white waistcoat with gold or silver? navy type buttons.
I went with the company to Southsea but parted company after a time as I had a bad relationship with a particular manager, went on to
Paignton, Devon, and worked in a large hotel(Markham Court) for two
seasons, then migrated to Oz.
The Southsea site was on Southsea Common but I cannot remember the
Sheffield site’s location. Anyone help??
One manager was ‘Johnny’ Heinz, another was David Monk?? I have
attempted to locate and contact a good Swiss friend from that time but although I located his name and a contact number – the person I
contacted apparently spoke no English- had to get his daughter to speak to me- and had never been anywhere near Cinerama!!
A mystery, as there is only one person listed in Switzerland with his name!!
Oh, the music played outside of film time was a Glen Miller selection.
Hope this stuff is of interest.
I joined Cinerama when it was in Sheffield, in the early ‘60s, I think I was 18. The name WAS Cinerama not Itinerama and the venue was a 'Big Top’(the centre lock hub weighed 5 tons)and the film that was shown was South Seas Adventure – but NOT as described on the web sites I have visited?? The ‘Windjammer’ plot, plus film of Australia’s outback was what I watched 13 times per week(and loved it, and my favourite music was all ready Grieg’s Piano Concerto)so somewhere the info lines have got crossed.
The screen was I believe 108 feet wide but I forget the height -huge covers it! The tent we were told,cost 1 $million due to the cost of
the fireproof? material. Seating number was enormous and at (laugh)12/6d per seat with 2 shows per day the take was at least 1000 quid I believe.
We wore black guards type daks with double stitched seams, maroon cummerbund and dickiebow, white shirt and white waistcoat with gold or silver? navy type buttons.
I went with the company to Southsea but parted company after a time as I had a bad relationship with a particular manager, went on to
Paignton, Devon, and worked in a large hotel(Markham Court) for two
seasons, then migrated to Oz.
The Southsea site was on Southsea Common but I cannot remember the
Sheffield site’s location. Anyone help??
One manager was ‘Johnny’ Heinz, another was David Monk?? I have
attempted to locate and contact a good Swiss friend from that time but although I located his name and a contact number – the person I
contacted apparently spoke no English- had to get his daughter to speak to me- and had never been anywhere near Cinerama!!
A mystery, as there is only one person listed in Switzerland with his name!!
Oh, the music played outside of film time was a Glen Miller selection.
Hope this stuff is of interest.