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Recollections Capitol Picture House Manderston Street, Leith |
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Recollections 1. Alan Sinclair British Columbia, Canada |
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Alan writes Railway Line "The Capitol Picture House in Manderston Street, Leith, must have be one of the few, if not the only one, having a railway line pass right over it. Thinking back to the 1940s, I'm sure we could hear the rumble as the train passed over. I hope others can remember this." Alan Sinclair, Squamish, British Columbia, Canada: January 10, 2008 |
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Recollections 2. George Clydesdale Edinburgh |
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George Clydesdale wrote: The Capi Club "Does anyone remember the 'Capi Club' on a Sunday in The Capitol Cinema, with all the talent and fashion shows? George Clydesdale, Edinburgh: Message left in EdinPhoto guestbook: August 15, 2008. |
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Recollections 3. Lily Burke (née Cavanagh) Thetford, Norfolk, England |
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Thank you to Lily Burke for replying to George Clydesdale's comments above. Lily wrote: |
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The Capi Club "I remember the Capi Club at Manderston Street Leith, George Clydesdale was writing about in August 2008." Danny Kay Impersonator "I wonder if George remembers the guy who impersonated Danny Kay he was great I can't remember the guy's name but will always remember him singing 'Ball-in The Jack'. He had the whole of the Capi Club singing with him, and then he got encores. The audience would not let him off the stage. I also remember the singing competitions. A few of my friends, myself and my cousin aired our lungs on the Capi stage. I think my cousin, Harry, won first prize. He was a really good singer but, sadly, he passed away in Adelaide, Australia many years ago. I hope there are more Capi members out there who can remember that guy. He even looked like Danny Kay." George Clydesdale, Edinburgh: Message left in EdinPhoto guestbook: August 15, 2008. |
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Recollections 4. Frank Ferri Leith, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Frank Ferri who wrote: |
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The Capi Club Birthdays "The Capi Club was the Saturday morning kids' cinema matinee, with its own song that the kids sang. On their birthday, each child received a card giving them free admission. Talent Contests "I remember the talent contests of the very early 1950s well. They were called the Sunday Capi Concerts. They had a mixture of professional talent, anything from conjurers to ventriloquists, with a spot for local amateur singers. I don't recall the Danny Kay impersonator, but I do remember two well known regular competitors. They were: - my late brother-in-law, Johnny Walker of the Lochend area - Jimmy Minto from the Corporation Buildings Leith. He is still with us, now in his late 70s. They did songs by popular singers of the day, Mario Lanza, Billy Eckstein, Frankie Lane, Johnny Ray, Eddie Fisher etc Sundays "These were the austere days when all cinemas were closed on a Sunday and there was literally no entertainment anywhere other than The Capitol, and perhaps something similar happening at the Regent cinema at Abbeyhill." Frank Ferri, Leith, Edinburgh: February 22, 2011 |
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Recollections 5. James A Rafferty Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland |
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Thank you to James A Rafferty who for allowing me to reproduce this Gaumont British Program for 1935. It lists films being shown at two of the Gaumont British cinemas: - The Capitol, Leith - The Regent, Edinburgh. James wrote: |
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British Gaumont "I noticed a few postings about the Leith Capitol Picture House recently, and thought that some of the EdinPhoto visitors might like to see this old program from 1935." James A Rafferty, Falkirk Stirlingshire, Scotland: November 30, 2011 |
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Recollections 6. John Fraser Inch, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to John Fraser who wrote: |
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Manderston Street "I was born at 27 Manderston Street, Leith, in 1935, straight across the road from the Capitol Cinema. The EdinPhoto web site has a photo of Manderston Street, but it's a recent photo. Perhaps someone, somewhere will have a photo showing the old houses in the street." Cinema Queue I went to the Capitol Cinema with my sister, Sadie, to see 'Snowhite and the Seven Dwarfs'. The Queue went from the cinema to Thorntree Street, then out to Easter Road. My sister said we had plenty time, but we ended up at Thorntree Street. Maybe some of my generation will remember some of the stories that were used to get to the front of the queue: 'Oh, look. There’s that girl from school that I owe thruppence to, twenty feet up the line.' or 'Look, there’s Doreen Sadler, my mum’s friend’s daughter, who lived in Glover street in the stair next to the ‘High Wall’ (Leith Central Station)'." John Fraser, Inch, Edinburgh: April 7, 2013 |
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Recollections 6. John Fraser Inch, Edinburgh |
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Thank you to John Fraser who wrote: |
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Manderston Street "I was born at 27 Manderston Street, Leith, in 1935, straight across the road from the Capitol Cinema. The EdinPhoto web site has a photo of Manderston Street, but it's a recent photo. Perhaps someone, somewhere will have a photo showing the old houses in the street." Cinema Queue I went to the Capitol Cinema with my sister, Sadie, to see 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'. The Queue went from the cinema to Thorntree Street, then out to Easter Road. My sister said we had plenty time, but we ended up at Thorntree Street. Maybe some of my generation will remember some of the stories that were used to get to the front of the queue: 'Oh, look. There’s that girl from school that I owe thruppence to, twenty feet up the line.' or 'Look, there’s Doreen Sadler, my mum’s friend’s daughter, who lived in Glover street in the stair next to the ‘High Wall’ (Leith Central Station)'." John Fraser, Inch, Edinburgh: April 7, 2013 |
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Recollections 7. Frank Campbell Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
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Thank you to Frank Campbell who wrote: |
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Saturday Matinees "During the 1950s and 1960s my mum, Sheila Campbell worked in the office at The Capitol with Ella Clayson. The manager was Mr Newman. I used to go to the Saturday matinees before visiting my grandparents in Jamieson Place." Saturday Matinees "There used to be a model club run by Jack Finlay and Jim Rae (Jack and I were subsequently in the TA together and Jim joined the Navy ,later going on to become a Fireman) The club met at The Capitol during the evening and I attended for a while, but the best benefit I got was that I was able to get in to see the films free as my mum worked there." Films and Talent Competitions "I've lost count of the number of films I saw there, but I remember fondly the musicals and cowboy films of the time. I also remember the talent competitions and the late Jackie Dennis getting made up as Al Jolson and winning with his rendition of 'Mammy'! " The Organ "On Sundays my mum played the organ at the concerts in The Capitol and the Regent." Frank Campbell, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland: 13 December |