Prince of Wales' Cinema
331 Harrow Road,
London,
W9
331 Harrow Road,
London,
W9
2 people
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Oh yes, I remember it well, I always remember after the Saturday morning minors coming out and turning left to go home, there was a small kiosk selling cigarettes and next door was an angling shop selling all kinds of fishing gear, the police station was the other side of the cimema, Bradley and Perrings was the nearby dept store, and round the corner in Westbourne park rd was another cinema, near the canel bridge, (carlton bridge), spent many a time fishing there…it was easy to cross the road in those days….somehow a happier time me thinks.
A lasting memory for me from my teens was the showing of “Bill Haley and the Comets' in "Rock Around The Clock”. Some got up to dance and before you knew it the place was a dance hall and every space was utilised; including the 2 raised aisles either side (referred to by Peter Dean' previous comment) the side aisles were only wide enough for about 4 people at a squeeze. The Prince of Wales and the Odeon, Kensal Rise were my cinemas of choice. I’ve lived in Australia since 1969 but the memories of youth stay with me.
The Prince Of Wales was my nearest local cinema when I was growing up in the early 1950’s and remember the picture house well.
To add to the information that Ken Roe has provided, I well remember, that when the cinema had the “House Full” signs up, the establishment allowed a certain number of patrons to stand on either side of the stalls on a raised gangway, separated from the seating, by a wall (about chest height) from where you could view the film. Basically, you formed a single file queue, with an usherette standing at the screen end, who then showed you to a seat should one become available.
I do not know whether any other cinema had this facility, perhaps someone could advise?