Projectionist gives insight into life at old cinema (From Your Local Guardian)

Projectionist gives insight into life at old Southfields cinema

2:31pm Tuesday 12th April 2011 in Wandsworth By James Trueman

A projectionist who worked at the old Southfields picture house in the 1950’s has shared his memories of life at the cinema.

Chris Johnston, 72, got a job at the picture house in Wimbledon Park Road as a 16-year-old, fresh from leaving school and worked there for two years from 1954-1956.

But after leaving to do his National Service in the Army for three years, his love of cinema inspired him to go on and become an actor and director around the world.

Mr Johnston, who used to live in Princes Road, Wimbledon, started work at the cinema as a coffee boy and worked his way up to becoming an assistant projectionist.

He said: “The programmes we showed were amazing. We used to have two feature movies, trailers and local commercials.

“We changed the reels every three days for a new film and would show a children’s matinee on a Saturday afternoon.”

Mr Johnston said that compared to today, the atmosphere in the auditorium was very different.

He said: “People were very respectful and would not talk during films. Everyone would wear a suit to go there and in those days most people would smoke in the auditorium.

“It was a cosy and very friendly place and everybody knew everybody. How much has changed.”

Mr Johnston is very supportive of plans by residents for the new Southfields Plaza project.

He said: “It was a focal point of the community, people would meet there and I hope that it could be like that today. It will be enchanting.”