Memories of the Picture House

As we move forward with our campaign, we’ve collected some stories and memories from members of the community who remember the Novello / Picture House in its former glory!

I grew up in Sunninghill and lived there until my early 20s. My childhood wasn’t the easiest – my mother was, unfortunately, frequently in hospital, my dad wasn’t around and I had no siblings. So, I spent much of my time alone. BUT the one special thing I had was the Picture House … and I practically lived there. I saw every film I could (even sneaking into the X certificated ones!) and it was, beyond doubt, the most important thing in my life. The world of Norman Wisdom, Carry Ons, Hammer horror – they offered a vital escape from my everyday worries.

And it was sometimes quite the experience! The heating was erratic – sometimes freezing, sometimes a sauna – the original seats weren’t the most comfortable and, in those days, it was full of cigarette smoke.

But none of this mattered a jot because it was our village cinema and it was loved, especially by me. I’ve been to hundreds of cinemas since then and many far more luxurious, but nothing will replace the Picture House in my heart. It did more than it will ever know to get me through a rough time and brought so much pleasure. I sincerely hope it will reopen and I, for one, would love to return and relive my childhood memories of sitting in the dark, in that magical place.

Kevin Probert-Briggs,

Netherlands

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My earliest memories of The Picture House are from the 1940s when it was run by a gentleman by the name of Mr Prince. My grandmother, Elizabeth Ellen Cheverall, known as Nell, was the cleaner there for many years and before I started school she would sometimes take me with her. I can remember once finding a sixpence when she was sweeping between the seats, treasure indeed!   

At Christmas time, Gran would pay for choc ices which were left in a box in the Picture House freezer and we would walk round on Christmas afternoon to collect them.   A rare treat! I don’t know exactly when she retired, but I’m sure she was still working there when I left school in 1961. I was at school at St Michael’s opposite the cinema and, in 1953, we were all taken there to see the film of the conquest of Everest. In fact, my best friend Carol and I often went to the cinema - I think it used to cost just a few pennies. I distinctly remember going there to see The Dambusters.

The Picture House was more than a cinema, it was a real social hub. In those days, few people had their own transport so this was where we met up with friends and saw the latest films, albeit some weeks after they had been released in large towns! When I met my ‘husband to be’ we met at the cinema nearly every week.

I was very sad to see that none of the original decorations had been retained. It would be wonderful for the old cinema to be used as a resource for the local community and future generations, as was the original intention.

June Musgrove,

Sunninghill

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I lived in Oriental Road many years ago and used to visit the Picture House - or Flea Pit as everyone used to call it! And the manager there was known to us as Uggy - again, don’t ask me why! Anyway, it used to cost sixpence in old money and I had some great times, sitting at the back of the cinema smoking my pipe. A lot of fond memories.

After the film, I’d head off to the chip shop in Upper Village Road where you could purchase a bag of batter scraps for just a penny. Those were the days! 

Steve,

Southampton

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Known in daylight as Mr Uggy Martin … him and his Misses used to live at the top of Bowden Road. But when darkness came, he turned into Torchy Torchy the Battery Boy and introduced me to the magical world of Moving Pictures.

Forever in his debt.

Paul N

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Although we moved away from the area around 35 years ago, I grew up in South Ascot and visited the Novello Picture House, before it became a theatre. 

Mum took my older sister and I to see Lady & The Tramp there - It took three gos! First time, my sister got hysterical when the Siamese cats came out of the basket. Second time I did, third time we got lucky! That film came out in 1955 but it must have been a while before it reached the wilds of Sunninghill because I’m sure I saw it in 1957.

Another highlight I remember was picking up 6d worth of chips on the walk home back to South Ascot - heaven!

Jacqui,

Reading

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The first film I saw at the Flea Pit (aka Novello) was Summer Holiday.

I remember sitting in the audience when something furry passed under my legs! I looked around in the darkness and couldn’t see anything… Then the picture interval came and I saw a black cat sitting in the aisle!!

Linda L