Tatton…A real treat
History Of The Tatton Cinema

OCTOBER 13 1937, was a very important day in the history of Gatley for the Tatton Cinema opened its doors and the residents poured in to see Dorothy Lamour in "The Jungle Princess".

Although there have been many changes the Tatton is still open for business and shows the latest releases.

The original owner was Earnest Nash-Eaton, who used to stand in the foyer watching and welcoming the patrons. He was assisted by Mrs Edge for many years until at his death Mrs Edge took over the cinema to be followed by her son Jack, who still lives in Gatley.
He later acquired the Savoy at Heaton Moor and the Davenport at Stockport.

In the days before television and video long queues were the order of the day. One frequently joined the queue in Old Hall Road and once in the auditorium it was standing room only at the back of the stalls until a seat was became available. Children would look out for a sympathetic adult who would take them in, or buy their ticket for films where they had to be accompanied by an adult. The modern parent would have been horrified.

Saturday matinees were very popular and a white line was drawn across the stall aisles. Threepence (in old money) before the line at the front, and sixpence behind. When the lights went out at the start of the performance many would dash to the back seats to the fury of the temporarily blinded usherettes, who then spent a good deal of time rounding up as many of the illegal immigrants as they could find and deporting them back below the white line.
The matinee film was usually an extra in place of the advertised programme. Often a cowboy classic starring Hopalong Cassidy and the like.

The inevitable romantic interlude in the plot was regarded as boring by the largely male audience who, chauvinists to a man, would greet the appearance of "the girl" with groans and catcalls.

There was always a serial with the hero being left in an impossible life-threatening situation to bring his ardent fans back next week to see how he got out of his predicament; usually it was a case of
"with one bound the hero leaped from his chains".

Acclaimed

Cartoons and films of the Three Stooges type were much acclaimed whilst travel films got a mixed reception, the juveniles in the audience probably being quite thankful when the sun sank slowly in the west and they said farewell to wherever.

By way of variety the Saturday matinee supporting films were replaced from time to time in favour of a local talent contest when young performers would take their lives in their hands and sing, dance, juggle or recite before their peers.

Presiding over this entertainment were a gentleman known as Uncle wells and his assistant Basil Richards.

Looking back I admire the courage of those people. The audience having been deprived of its diet of cartoons was not always receptive to little Daisy Snooks and her take off of Shirley Temple.

The winner was chosen by the volume of applause and despite Uncle Wells' entreaties that booing was unfair, cheers and jeers were hurled without restraint at the unfortunate individuals who had entered us, indeed we would have given the Glasgow Empire audience a run for its money, although I do recall that many of the turns were enjoyable.

Before it was converted into the Mini Cinema the café proved to be popular with those seeking refreshments before the performance or visitors or shoppers who called in to meet their friends for a spot of lunch. Today snacks and drinks can be purchased in the foyer.

Main feature films would run either for a week or a split week and so the programme changed far more than today. There was always the Pathe News and two or three supporting films or a double feature.

The main film ran for an average of one and three quarter hours until 'Gone with the wind' started the epic. I can remember treating myself to a seat in the circle to see that. It must have cost all of two shillings and sixpence or twelve and a half new pence!

Restrictions

During the war, 1939-45, the Tatton carried on as usual save that the roof camouflaged and the sign was not lit. It played a large part in relieving wartime restrictions and the tedium blackout.

A notice would appear on the screen if an air raid took place. The audiences were patriotic then and few chose to leave before the last notes of "God save the King" died away.

Kiosk attendant Betty Mathews has been associated with the Tatton for over 30 years and has seen all the changes. When she began it was sometimes difficult to see the screen through the haze of pipe and cigarette smoke.

The evening performances began at 5pm and repeated until about 10.30pm. People would come in during a performance and remain until the same part next time round. Plots must have been easier to follow in those days.

She says that the onset of the video has caused audiences to fall. She particularly enjoys her work when a popular film pulls in the crowds and the atmosphere builds up to excitement.

The dancing type of film Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire and Michael Wilding/Anna Neagle society films always brought huge audiences and the James Bond films caused such queues that members of staff had to go outside the cinema to say the house was full.

Confident

Betty has seen big changes over the years. The café became the Mini Cinema and the circle the Minor. The foyer has been altered and the Pullman seats offer far more comfort than in the old days.

The manager is Simon Ward and the cinema is owned by Apollo Leisure. Mr Ward does not view the possibility of a 24 screen cinema complex at Sharston with any pleasure. He is, however, confident that the Tatton will survive.

When Stockport opened its multiscreen cinema, takings dropped, but now the Tatton has made up this loss and more films such as Jurassic Park and Independence Day brought back the queues.

Mr Ward says the Tatton has a large nucleus of loyal patrons who prefer a traditional and less impersonal cinema with its warmer atmosphere.

The recent films of the classics, Jane Eyre, Emma and Sense and Sensibility have proved popular. He expects the soon-to-be-released 101 Dalmations to break all records.

So there the Tatton is, still going strong after 59 years… and long may it continue.