Tatler projectionists in the 1950’s.Left-Stanley Davies. 2nd from Right- Albert Gerrard
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MARGARET (PEGGY) RAWSON~ Assistant manager, then promoted to General Manager from June 1964.
Local press report-June 1964. Peggy Rawson becomes General Manager of the Classic Cinema, Chester.
A lady well remembered and liked by movie goers to the Classic cinema during the 1960s was the general manager, Margaret (Peggy) Rawson. Her efficient and charming manner ensured visiting the Classic was a pleasure. She was known for her film promotions, such as “The Finest Hours”, when she arranged a special viewing and Civic reception inline with the city’s tributes to Sir Winston Churchill.
Her son, Tony Rawson followed her into cinema management with the ABC circuit. In 1985 Tony was selected as a Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust … What goes around comes around! Thanks Mum xx.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
E. W. McDERMOTT~ General Manager early 1960s.
EILEEN FORSHAW~ General Manager successor to Peggy Rawson- 1965.
MRS. WALTON~ secretary/cashier mid-late 1950s
ALBERT GERRARD~ projectionist
CATHERINE PARRY~ secretary/cashier
Staff at the closing of the Classic cinema, Chester (inset picture~Kath Jones, second from left~ Helen Jones, far right~ Wendy Lewis)
TONY JONES~ chief projectionist late 50s
STANLEY DAVIES~ projectionist.
GRAHAM JONES~ 2nd projectionist late 1950s
BOB (MICK) CARRINGTON~ projectionist mid to late 1950s
JOHN JEFFREYS~ third projectionist mid 50s
Ron Evans
Ron Evans, started his cinema career at the Classic Cinema where he quickly learned the skills of projecting and presenting films. He later moved to the nearby ABC Theatre where he is pictured above. Ron had taken promotion there in the early to mid 1960’s. At the ABC he was responsible for not just showing films, but for organizing the immense amount of technical maintenance that was associated with a cinema of that size (2016 seats). He was involved with the preparations in converting the cinema stage in readiness for the highly successful pop shows, meeting many of the major stars who appeared on stage at that time.
RON EVANS~ third projectionist late 50s
CLIVE HOLDSTOCK~ chief projectionist early 1960s
SID BROWN~ second projectionist early 60s
PETER DAVIES~ part-time third projectionist early 60s
JOHN LIGHTFOOT~ second projectionist early 60s, later as chief projectionist.
ERIC MONKHOUSE ~ 2nd projectionist mid 1960s
EDDIE ROWLANDS~ third projectionist mid 60s
DAVID ELLIS~ third projectionist mid 60s
DOUG WILCOX~ projectionist
JOHN LIGHTFOOT~ chief projectionist mid/late 60’s (final chief)
TOMMY WILLETS~ doorman/boiler-man early 60s
BARBARA CAIN~ usherette
KATH JONES~ General Manager
SHIRLEY SHAW~ usherette
STEPHEN PURDUM~ projectionist
KATHLEEN ROBERTS~ usherette
WENDY LEWIS~ usherette
Charlie Bowden
CHARLIE BOWDEN~ trainee/fourth projectionist
If you worked at the Tatler/Classic, or know of a relative or friend who did, please contact us so we can add their name to the staff list