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PLYMOUTH CINEMAS

MAYFLOWER CINEMA

During the afternoon of Saturday May 2nd 1970 Dame Joan Vickers MP officially renamed the State Cinema at St Budeaux as the Mayflower.  The idea for the change of name cam from the cinema's manager, Mr Prynne Richards, and the ceremony took place on the day that the "Mayflower Year" celebrations were launched.  The cinema was stated to seat 935.  On display at the opening was a 50ft by 15ft mural in oils by 28-years-old artist Robert Lenkiewicz.  It depicted in great detail the final landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock.

There was no interruption to the showing of films, they just started that day's show at 4pm instead of midday.  The films that week were "The Killing of Sister George" and "Legend of Jimmy Blue Eyes".  From the following Monday the films were "Spring and Port Wine" with James Mason and Susan George, and the almost silent "Rhubarb", with Harry Secombe and Eric Sykes.

But simply changing the name does not always revitalise what is already dying and on Saturday March 3rd 1973 the Mayflower closed with the films "Soldier Blue" and "Carnal Knowledge".  Childrens' Saturday shows continued for a while.

 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth, UK

Page created:  16 April 2008

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