Movies in the good old days
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (389010)
Rockingham, Australia
December 18, 2024 7:18am CST
I wrote about having the chance to attend a film festival and it took me back to when we used to go to the movies as a child. It was held in a theatre. There might have been some ads first. I can’t remember that bit but then the National Anthem would play and we’d all stand and be quiet for its duration.
Next would come a newsreel then, if we were lucky, a cartoon. This would be followed by the ‘B’ film, then interval and finally the main film. I guess the length of the film determined if there would be a cartoon or not. I don’t remember what time the movies finished but it always seemed late to us kids. So, with all the bits and pieces, you got your money's worth from the night.
The photo is of some of the great wall art at the entertainment centre where the festival will be held.
14 people like this
14 responses
@xFiacre (15443)
• Ireland
18 Dec 24
@Judyev I loved the newsreels though they left me feeling rather nervous and a bit worried. We always had to stand for the national anthem, and since it was in Malawi at the country's then only cinema (The Majestic) the president had spies at each showing to check on who stood and who did not. If you didn't stand and were black you were escorted to jail, if white you were escorted to the airport.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (88393)
• United States
18 Dec 24
Those were the days. There were “serials” back in the 40s (Steven Spielberg said he based Raiders of the Lost Ark on those old serials.
Then there was the cute song…
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@FourWalls (88393)
• United States
19 Dec 24
@JudyEv — I was taking a break for the holidays, it just for you….
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@Tampa_girl7 (54705)
• United States
18 Dec 24
I can remember always having our national anthem first at the movie theaters on the Air Force Bases. I don’t recall them off base, but we always got a cartoon.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54705)
• United States
19 Dec 24
@JudyEv I still would like a cartoon first. Not sure why they stopped showing them ?
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@JudyEv (389010)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 24
@Tampa_girl7 I think if the two films were a bit longer than usual maybe then they didn't have a cartoon.
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@LindaOHio (223143)
• United States
19 Dec 24
I remember getting a double header with 2 movies, a newsreel, etc. Also, you could stay and see the movie/s a second time if you wanted to. Have a good day. Interesting mural.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223143)
• United States
20 Dec 24
@JudyEv We used to go to the matinees for about $1.
1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11023)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
18 Dec 24
it's similar nowadays - first commercials, then the movie
but you can pick when to watch the movie - late or super late
cartoons are mostly available in the morning hours 
but you can pick when to watch the movie - late or super late
cartoons are mostly available in the morning hours 1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389010)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 24
@aureategloom We have that in our big centres too. They might have five or six theatres but sometimes there is only a handful of people in each.
1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11023)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
19 Dec 24
@JudyEv it's similar here, but there are some movie theaters that work almost all day and have many different rooms that display different movies
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@allknowing (153245)
• India
18 Dec 24
We had some documentaries played at school and that's it My first movie I think was when I was in my teens
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@Manasha (2970)
• Pondicherry, India
19 Dec 24
What a wonderful trip down memory lane! It’s amazing how those little rituals—like standing for the National Anthem, catching a cartoon, and watching a newsreel—made movie nights feel so special and immersive. They truly packed the evening with entertainment back then! The wall art at the festival venue sounds like the perfect touch to evoke that nostalgic magic. Enjoy the festival—sounds like it’ll be a memorable experience! ???
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389010)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 24
They were good times. It's hard not to be nostalgic about them.
@wolfgirl569 (141156)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Dec 24
Here did candy and popcorn commercials. Then often straight to the movie
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (92342)
• United States
18 Dec 24
I remember movies being like that when I was a kid. Plus most movies played over and over so many times we were able to stay and watch it twice.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (389010)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 24
I think in the cities they were played over and over but not in our little country town.
@Dreamerby (10381)
• Calcutta, India
19 Dec 24
here they play the national anthem at the movies too.
1 person likes this
