wh smith

York & Crypt Bars, Orion Cinema, WH Smith 1978

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Steven Graham… My dad was landlord at about this time

Peter Houghton… I used to go to watch films at the Orion cinema and go down to the crypt for a drink and I think they had things on the wall

Jacquie Hinves… I saw the “ prime of Miss Jean Brodie “ at the Orion in 1972! Great days.

Diane Knight… I remember when my parents had an old folks home , I was sent down to the Orion to pick one of the old boys up …I went up to the counter and said I was looking for an old man in a raincoat…”we get a lot of those in here “,was her reply 😂😂😂..happy days !!!

Julie Morris…  The Orion – otherwise known as The Fleapit!

Angela Frances Gardner… I went there as a teenager watched a film that totally confused me. It was an X rated film which I shouldn’t have been allowed in to.

Nick Prince… the Orion never worried too much about things like your age. I think the weekend cashier was only about fifteen on Weekend afternoons.

Gerry Fortsch… I remember seeing Chesty Morgan in the Flea Pit as well as Dr Who in a more adult role being w—-d off, great memories from my younger days.

Roger Simmonds… Wonderfull remember them well!

Liane Carroll… My Auntie Vera was an usher there and she used to giggle at the XXX films

Josie Lawson… my mum worked there and she used to say she had a friend there called Vera. My mum was a cashier after usherette. I knew Julie Bull who became my friend daughter of the manager Mr. Bull. Did you know them too? my mum knew a Vera when she worked there

Sue James… Used to go to the Crypt then

Jane Hartley… me too

Tony Court-holmes… Hastings used to have a lot of cinemas

Nick Prince… That photo was actually from October 1977. From when the whole block was sold at auction. For the record, the Orion was screening Emmanuel when the pic was taken. At the time of its closure, the Orion was still making a profit

Jonathan Mendenhall… wonderful memory ..a thriving un pretentious town. The Orion was the local “flea pit”..it showed dirty movies

Josie Lawson… that’s why I left my job there Jonathan but that was when it changed. When I started working there it was a nice ordinary picture house with ordinary films even films for children. Last time I had a chat with you was at the Kings Head pub that was in 2009…was at my ex’s funeral wake.You know my brother Robin, but also we discussed the non profit mag I founded and edited in the past.

Roy Marven formely Syrett… same here

Josie Lawson… maybe you know a friend of mine from the past..,Linda Syrett ?

Roy Marven formell Syrett… that would be my auntie – Lynda Craske – she is in facebook

Mick O’Dowd… AAh! The Flea Pit as the Orion was once known. One of the last films shown there was the original Star Wars and you sat ankle deep in discarded sweet wrappers, drinks cups etc!

Jan Warren… Used to go to the fleapit with my hubby, Pete (we lived just around the corner in Middle Street at the time) I remember seeing “Emmanuelle” (Sylvia Kristel) there, although that was mild compared with some of the films they showed?!!

Martin Richter… i don’t think any would be seen as that bad these days – i seem to remember it was “confessions of ….” type of stuff ?

Paul Coleman… Tony Court-Holmes mentioned Hastings used to have a lot of cinemas. Believe it or not, but Bexhill used to have I believe 5 of its own!

Nick Prince… If one includes the Kursaal and the virtually unused one under the balcony Bexhill has had seven cinemas but no more than four were open at any one time.

Lloyd Johnson… The Gaiety,The Orion,The Ritz,The Deluxe, The Curzon,The Regal are the cinemas I remember from my childhood in Hastings and St.Leonard’s.

Tony Court-holmes… Roxy in silverhill 3 in bexhill 1 battle and 1 in rye, i remember it like that

Lloyd Johnson… Tony, The Roxy that’s the one I forgot. I remember going there with Dave Trodd!..he said I know this great little cinema all the ton-up boys go to ,it’s just like the 50s.It was a great laugh,very rowdy at times!…

Pete Houghton… That’s a great picture

Micky Erends… loved the Orion, I used to go there all the time to watch b movie horror films with my mate Mick Collins

Peter Fairless… Oh, yes

Paul Cullen… Used to go to the Orion pretty much every weekend for the Steve Reeves fantasy movies etc. Always known as the flea pit

 

York & Crypt Bars, Orion Cinema and WHSmith Hastings photo by Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

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photo © Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

Pauline Richards… Was it the rubber shop just out of sight?

Alan Esdaile… don’t know if it was the rubber shop but if you mean coming down the road next to WH Smith, at this time it was ‘Jax’.

Pauline Richards… Oh. I thought it was either rubber coat shop or criterion cafe. Was Jax a boutique

Alan Esdaile… woman’s clothes shop I think?

Oliver Leonard… is that in the 80s?

Matt Thomas… I would say about 77/78 with Star Wars showing at the cinema

Wendy Weaver… Look at that car! I had one of those

Jan Warren… Which one Wendy? the Citroen DS? – beautiful cars!!

Angela Frances Gardner… ‘The Flea Pit!’

Tracy Birrell… I remember this well in the ’70’s.

Dennis Torrance… My mum worked there Orion cinema in late sixties pass she had greatly used by me and my mates . Got beer by pub next door smuggling it in there and leaving bottles in there . Next morning my mum got home Bad temper about louts drinking in there and beer bottles. I had to turn my head away as first I started laughing got told off but she never knew it was me and my mates . Feel terrible about it now but thanks for the photo which triggered the memory

Nick Prince…

Star Wars showed at the Classic in Queens Road for six weeks in 1977 and didn’t screen at the Orion until 1978, when the Orion ran it on three different occasions, the last of which was an eight day run, which finished on August 31st, 1978, the day it closed. It should be noted that the Orion was still profitable but due to the barring system at the time, the Orion could only get one release in five first run in Hastings, with the Classic getting the other four. The 1/5 bar of new releases to the Orion was infact put in place when the Curzon in St Leonard’s shut in 1977. The Curzon itself having the 1/5 bat before. Prior to January 1977 and for as far back as I know, the Orion had no new releases and in a previous proprietor’s words…. “This is why we show sex!” No one asked for a lecture on the film barring system in Hastings in the late 70’s but you got one I could go back to the 60s and earlier. Lol

Remembering Hastings Travel agents.

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Ive Travel 1965, WH Smith 1980

Who remembers local travel agents? The big one used to be Exchange Travel in Parkstone Road and used to be a good one in Robertson Street which I think was called Travel Time? I remember even Stylus Records when they had a shop by the fountain were selling holidays. Also was Hollingsworths selling holidays at one stage? Any others you remember?

Chris Pook… I think Exchange Travel was in Parker Rd – next the Seeboard Depot.

Alan Esdaile… Yes your right Chris, Thanks.

Paul Durrant… Great to see the Ive Travel ad……run by Ted Ive Local Councillor and later the business and Battle Road premises became IveDrive car and van hire…..and the local band connection is that Ted’s son Richard Ive was road manager of Damaris……..Richard now lives in NZ.