b/w photo supplied by Colin Bell
Leigh Mitchell… I worked three summers in the bars there from 1974!
Dave Weeks… Sneaked in there a few times
Julian Deeprose… don’t know how many times I have been in that pool……Bloody cold
Kevin Burchett… I was a lifeguard there for the 1973 season its where I met my first wife
Sindy Snap… Have you got the record? Its fantastic, I love it. Sounds of Bob Rogers. ‘Meadowbank’ is the best!
Colin Harmer… I used to be the pool attendant!
Nick Bloomfield… Can anybody remember the name of a stereo equipment shop on Western Road (probably about number 30) from the 1980’s? I remember staring through the window a lot but they also had a listening lounge and once I went in and was blasted by ‘Money For Nothing’ it was brilliant too through their sound system! It must have been around 1985? They had a lot of Bang & Olufsen equipment too. I preferred my Technics amp, Garrard LAB 80 Deck and Wharfdale speakers! It’s bugging me that I can’t remember the name.
Nadia Compagnone… Hastings Hi-Fi.
Nick Bloomfield… Nadia, thanks! I feel really daft not remembering that. It’s age…
Paul Gray… Fantastic shop! Bought my 1st cd player there and upgraded my amp, speakers, turntable and speaker stands there 33 years ago. Still have the amp and stands. They were always so helpful and enthusiastic there.
Nick Bloomfield… I remember them being as Paul says and very professional too. Playing your favourite music on great stereo equipment gave you a real thirst to upgrade!
Yvonne Cleland… That’s a yes from me.
Peter Fairless… Oh, yes!
Neil Cartwright… Remembers? Has it gone???
Andrew Freeman… Oh yes!
Peter Thomson… First place I ever tasted Fosters lager, on a warm summer evening. It was genuine Ozzy fair, imported and served from a tinny. Tasted ok but was significantly stronger than the artificial urine we get now. You want to know how bad it is? Try it at room temperature! This is CAMRA signing off…
Jim Breeds… Definitely!
Patrick Lewis… Quite a few happy nights there in the mid to late 70’s
Jim Breeds… I think you might be right Pat.
Chris Giles… Yes I used to go there …it was a long walk but ok if you were going into scalliwags later
Alan Pepper… Was it opposite what is now AZUR ? I think we did go there 1977 en route to Scalliwags Fridays ‘back in the day’ !! When the Bee Gees ruled the decks . Get on down !
Alan Esdaile… Yes opposite Azur, Alan.
Jane Dorsett… went to mr cherrys every weekend,in the mid 70s,then up Saturdays.
Diane Knight… Passed my college years in there !!!
Leigh Weiland-Boys… Loved it there – used to pop in lunch times when at College, and, like others, before going down Scallis
Joe Knight… Steve Maxted – Great DJ entertainer 😁
adverts supplied by Nick Prince – Cinemas & Theatres Of East Sussex Facebook page.
Nick Prince… Eddie Calvert was Monday 25th July, 1955 for entire week and Billy Cotton was Monday 8th August, 1955, for entire week. Some of the big names that appeared during the final year of the Regal, London Road, St Leonards. Just imagine who may have appeared there had it survived into the 1960’s Over the years the greatest stars of the era appeared on its stage, among them were Louis Armstrong, George Formby, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn and Duke Ellington. The Regal closed on 8th September, 1956, when owned by ABC. It has dubious claim to fame of being the first cinema in the country to blame television for its closure. Ocean House now occupies the site.
Mick Knights… Now I do remember my folks taking me to see Eddie Calvert at the Regal, no idea how old I was, probably eight or so, which must also means he was the first ‘named’ artist I ever saw!!!!
Charles Bryant… Was interested to see where the old Regal theatre once was in Hastings (Ocean House) as I have just aquired from a local table sale, three old Regal programs from the 1950’s and was interesting to see that Morcambe & Wise appeared there in 1952.
supplied by Bill Third
Bill Third… Freddie & The Dreamers outside Normandie House b&b circa 1963. The entrance looks very much like that of a b&b that was in St.Leonards. Wonder if any of your SMART circle could help out ?
all photos supplied by Pete Prescott
Merv Kennard… Hi Pete I remember the photo of you and Bob, but can’t remember what led up to it. Bob is still around but have not seen him for ages.
Judy Atkinson… I worked as a temp there briefly in 1977
Dennis Torrance… I worked Collins&Hayes from August 68 till April 1975 had a good football team 1972 onwards .
Pete Prescott… There was a lady called Sue in cushion stuffing who was featured in the Esther Rantzen show with her unusual laugh ( think of a donkey with breathing problem). A cassette tape was primed and I was given the job of making her laugh. It worked. She was featured on the show one Sunday night. I’m guilty of hiding in those tubes and jumping out on people. I nearly gave Jim a heart attack. Naughty boy !
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Derek Clemans… I went to see Slade in flame there.
Dizz Corinne Ryder… me too!
Peter Houghton… Didn’t they used to call it the flea pit?
Alan Esdaile… That was The Orion, Pete.
Nick Prince… no the Curzon was the best in the borough at the time of closing
Janine Anne Scott… My Grandma was an usherette there in the 60s.
Dennis Torrance… Sad when it went Remember wet winter Sunday afternoons in there with old girlfriend they used to bring tea trolley around great service and some great films
Alan Esdaile… remember the tea trolley. Used to get the old film posters from the manager.
Christina Prentice… My auntie Winnie took me there to see escape from witch mountain!!!!
Mike Mitchell… Ah that wonderful tea trolley pushed along by a lady in a checked nylon house coat. Tea always came in cup *and* saucer no less!
And the manager was always standing outside in dinner jacket and bow tie to greet you. Happy days!
Nick Prince… The Curzon closed seven days after the Penguin did. A week later, the White Rock Pavilion showed its last film. It wasn’t uncommon to get several films a year there
Kevin White… My dad was a projectionist there in the 50’s or 60’s.I used to get in free as a kid as he knew the manager at the time. Mum used to send me down there with some sandwiches during the summer holidays when I was getting on her nerves,bless her cotton socks.So quite often
Ralph Town… I saw a re run of “Man who fell to Earth” in 77 too.I got press book,poster,photos THE LOT!
Patrick Turner… I worked as a projectionist there in the 60s great times. Patrick Turner also Brian Warne
Colin Bell… My local cinema, only lived a few hundred yards away. That Manager was a lovely gentleman, and tea & biccies in the intermission, I hate Multiplex’s in comparison!
Ian Quinnell… I used to go to school (PR) in the 60’s with a guy whose father was manager of the Curzon and I think the Classic in Queens Rd. Think his surname was Searcy or similar
Colin Bell… Yup, thats the guy in the closure article Ian.
Patrick Turner… I also went out with 1 of the usherets in my youth
Kevin White… Patrick Turner, did you know my dad Ivor White,it may have been the 50’s when he worked there though,I’m not sure. He was also a projectionist at the Ritz where Ocean House is now, where he met Richard Attenborough. He also worked at the Roxy at Silverhill where the Carpet shop is and at Battle cinema. This is Ivor showing a young Sir Richard Attenborough, the projectors at the Ritz cinema in 1948. This is taken from our family website. http://whitehouse2002.co.uk
supplied by Kevin White
Patrick Turner… Sorry Kevin l do not remember your dad. He might have been just before l was. l am pretty sure it was 1962 when l was first there. I think her name was Sandra, can’t remember her surname.
Kevin White… Patrick, I think dad was there a few years before you were there.I also realized that some of my info was wrong about the cinema in London Road,where Ocean House is now,it wasn’t the Ritz,because of course that was in the town centre where ESK is now,it was the Regal Cinema.I remember sneaking in there as a kid when it had been standing derelict for a while. I could have only been about 7 or 8 at the time,there were three or four of us and we climbed in through a broken window into some sort of storeroom, and as we opened the door to go exploring, there was a loud shout from inside the building,we turned and ran like hell. We legged it down into Kings Road and went and hid in Woolworths. What idiots we were.
Alan Esdaile… Woolworth in Kings Road, another memory.
Kevin White… Used to love going and getting a bag of pick n’ mix sweets for a shilling or something like that.
Jane Hartley… Saw Towering Inferno on TV the other day. Took a younger friend who was too young to see it without an adult, to the Curzon to see it.
Sian Hayward… My mother worked there as an usherette serving teas and coffees from a trolley. Seems very quaint!
Patrick Turner… Sian, What was her name.
Linda Boiling… My Mum (May) was an Usherette at The Curzon around 1965 for many years and my stepdad (Wally) used to change over the advertising posters outside. My sister and I used to see the films for free over and over again. Can remember seeing Oliver as loved Jack Wild, The Sound of Music, Dr Zhivago and many more. They worked for Mr Searcy, his son Ian worked there and his daughter Kay. When my sister left school she worked there for a while too. I can remember that at Christmas the children from Malmsbury House Childrens home used to go to see a film for free. Really sad when it closed.
