Kings-Theatre

St
ars in t
he Aisles
THE HISTORY OF
THE USHERETTE
2. Foyer of The Savoy (ABC)
Commercial Road. Portsmouth (1936)
3. Florence Wall (c.1940s). Florence
was an usherette at The Ambassador,
Cosham. The Carlton, Cosham
and The Plaza, Bradford Junction,
Portsmouth, 1943-1949 approximately.
1. The Picture House, Commercial
Road Portsmouth (c.1910s)
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Eva Usherette
www.cinemausherettes.com
St
ars in t
he Aisles
THE HISTORY OF
4. Staff at The Regent/Gaumont London Road,
North End, Portsmouth, (1933) Molly Rowe is in the
centre of the image dressed in white denoting she
was an ice-cream girl. Molly worked at The Regent/
Gaumont and The Odeon, London Road, North
End, Portsmouth, 1933-1978 as a chocolate girl,
and usherette, a cashier and a secretary. Staff at
The Regent/Gaumont. (c.1940s) Molly Rowe, front
row, far right.
THE USHERETTE
5. The Regent/Gaumont. (c.1940s) Molly Rowe,
front row, far right.
8. Florence Wall and friends on
the rooftop of The Plaza/Gaumont
Bradford Junction, Portsmouth
(c.1940s) Florence is far left of
the group
9. Florence Wall and friends on
the rooftop of The Plaza/Gaumont
Bradford Junction, Portsmouth
(c.1940s) Florence is far right,
back row of the group
10. Molly Rowe as cashier at The
Regent/Gaumont (c.1940s)
6. Vera Ayres with
friend (1942)
11. Florence Wall and friends on
the rooftop of The Plaza/Gaumont
Bradford Junction, Portsmouth
(c.1940s) Florence is in the centre
of the group
12. Florence Wall and friends on
the rooftop of The Plaza/Gaumont
Bradford Junction, Portsmouth
(c.1940s) Florence is far left
7. Vera Ayres wearing
the uniform of The
Ambassador cinema
Cosham, Portsmouth
(1942). Vera worked at
The Ambassador as an
usherette, 1940-1942.
Eva Usherette
www.cinemausherettes.com
13. Staff photo (unknown) (c.1940s)
St
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he Aisles
THE HISTORY OF
THE USHERETTE
14. H Usherette engaged in unusual task
(c.1940/50s)
15. H Staff presentation (c. 1960s)
16. Palace Cinema, Salisbury (c.1920s)
17. H Usherettes giving gifts to
schoolchildren (c.1940s/50s)
18. H Staff presentation (c. 1940s/50s)
20. H Staff enjoying cake (c.1940s/50s)
21. H Off duty staff (c.1940/50s)
19. Staff at The Regent/Gaumont
(c.1940s) Molly Rowe, third left, front row.
Eva Usherette
www.cinemausherettes.com
St
ars in t
he Aisles
THE HISTORY OF
THE USHERETTE
23. H Usherette greeting starlet
(c.1950s)
22. The Electric Cinema Muswell Hill (c. 1913)
24. The foyer of the Troxy cinema, Stepney, London
(c.1930s)
25. H Miss Cinema Usherette (1955)
26. Marilyn Monroe promoting the film
East of Eden (1955)
Images 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 reproduced courtesy of The Cinema Theatre Association.
(www.cinema-theatre.org.uk)
Images 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 were obtained from the personal collections of Florence Wall, Molly Rowe and Vera Ayres
when Eva interviewed them. Permission was granted to allow them to be published. They are now part of Eva’s personal research.
H These images come from a collection of material held at the Cinema Theatre Association’s archive (www.cinema-theatre.org.uk).
Unfortunately the majority of the collection is undated and no information is provided as to which cinema they were taken. The material
is affectionately known as, The Maurice Cheepin file.
Maurice Cheepin managed a number of London’s largest cinemas such as the Gaumont State Kilburn, the Trocadero Elephant and
Castle and the Troxy Stepney. He spent most time of his time at the Troxy Stepney and most of the images come from that cinema.
He was a real Showman in the tradition of the travelling fairground that needed to undertake stunts and attractions to encourage
attendances at the show. All cinema managers were expected to do this sort of thing, as well as managing the cinema. Maurice Cheepin
is regarded as one of the most creative and all staff were expected to engage with this, including the usherette.
I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into the world of the cinema usherette.
This is an ongoing research project. If you can contribute to it, I would be delighted to hear from you.
I am particularly interested in speaking with former and current cinema usherettes and cinema workers.
I am also collating memories and recollections from cinema- goers from the past and the present.
Please contact me at [email protected]
Telephone 07897 203972
Eva Balogh
Eva Usherette
www.cinemausherettes.com
St
ars in t
he Aisles
THE HISTORY OF
THE USHERETTE
Eva Usherette
www.cinemausherettes.com
St
ars in t
he Aisles
THE HISTORY OF
THE USHERETTE
All Usherette quotes postcards available from the Kings Theatre foyer, priced 50p.
Photographic reprints of the exhibition images are available to purchase from Eva Balogh at [email protected].
Proceeds will go towards supporting the Kings Theatre and furthering the research of this project.
Eva Usherette
www.cinemausherettes.com