THE grand old days of Glasgow’s picture houses live long in the memories of Evening Times readers.

After our recent feature on the city’s famous cinemas, reader Robert Downes got in touch to share his stories of happy days spent at the movies.

“I was brought up in Naburn Street in Hutchesontown in the Gorbals and from a very young age, I Ioved going to the pictures,” says the 85-year-old, who now lives in Giffnock.

“Sometimes I would inform my parents that I was going straight from school to the Wellington Palace Picture Hall on Commercial Road.

“In 1945 at the age of 12, I got a part time job there. Every second week my task was to take the Universal News Reel from the Wellington Palace to the Paragon Cinema, renamed the Odeon, in Cumberland Street, and back to the Wellington after being shown.”

He smiles: “This allowed me, much to my delight, to see the pictures which were showing at both cinemas.

“My pay was six shillings per week - thirty pence in today’s money. I did this job until I was 16, when reluctantly, I had to leave to take up an apprenticeship.”

Robert recalls the manager of the Wellington Palace, Jack Murray.

“Back then, you could smoke inside cinemas, but Mr Murray really disliked it,” adds Robert. “During the performance, he would go round the hall spraying scent into the air.

“The Wellington Palace also gave out small scented programme cards to patrons. I used to bring a handful home to my mother to put in the drawers in the house.”

Robert adds: “When I got back from the Paragon, Mr Murray would ask me if they were busy and what picture they were showing.”

Stephen McLauchlan emailed us from western Canada after he spotted our article online.

“I look forward to reading the Evening Times daily online and I enjoyed the article on memories of Glasgow,” he says.

“I was born and raised in Bright Street in the old Garngad, 81 yrs ago and I served my apprenticeship at the St Rollox Railway works on Springburn Road.

“I remember going to the Carlton (the entrance was on Royston Hill ) and the Casino movie halls in Castle Street - I remember there were box seats just as you entered the hall of the Casino, where the “winchers“ usually sat.”

He laughs: “Right across the road from the Casino was a water fountain with a lion’s head and a big metal cup attached to the wall with a chain. We didn’t worry about catching anything back then - playing in the middens made you immune to anything anyway!”

Stephen adds: “If you had any money left after the movies you would buy a hot roll from the baker’s in the close across from the library and chew that on the walk home, acting out scenes from the movies, when the good cowboys had shot all the bad guys dead….”

We would love to hear more of your Glasgow memories – where did you grow up? Where did you work? What are your favourite memories of your old neighbourhood? Can you remember the old theatres, dance halls and shops? Which ones stick in your mind?

Through our regular library drop-in events, which have now taken place all over the city, and our letters page and email postbag, we are compiling a fantastic archive of stories and pictures, all dedicated to the city we love.

Please write to Ann Fotheringham, Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB or email ann.fotheringham@heraldandtimes.co.uk with your stories and photos. Don’t forget to include a contact email address or telephone number.