The New Theatre and the Oxford Playhouse dominated the pantomime season in the city for many years.
But numerous amateur groups staged their own shows, bringing extra gaiety and enjoyment in the Christmas period to many families.
Picture 1 shows a scene from Tom Sawyer, the festive presentation by members of North Oxford Junior Dramatic Society amid what looks like elaborate scenery at Wolvercote village hall in 1964.
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A cast of 28 girls and boys, aged between nine and 16, staged three performances of a two-hour musical show based on Mark Twain’s book. The producer was Peter Bridges.
Ugly sisters Kevin Collins, left in Picture 2, and Andy Greetham are seen checking their ballroom slippers as they went walkabout in Witney in the 1990s.
They were publicising Witney Drama Society’s forthcoming pantomime, Cinderella, at the Corn Exchange in the town.
They were promising fun for all the family at a total of seven performances, two during the day and five in the evening.
The cast had been busy since November rehearsing the show, which was written, produced and directed by Roberta Quick.
The flying horse, in Picture 3, made a dramatic appearance in an updated version of Jack and the Beanstalk, the 1971 pantomime staged by Oxford Youth Theatre in Magdalen Road, East Oxford.
Another surprise for the audiences was Mr Spock of Star Trek as a novel kind of fairy.
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The pantomime in Picture 4 included a tap-dancing camel, seen with the cast, an oil-rich sheik and a wicked American capitalist.
Ali Baba and the Seven Thieves was the choice of South Oxford Community Association at Lake Street community centre, off Abingdon Road, in 1976.
Picture 5 includes five of the cast of Princess Catskin, the 1969 production of the Children’s Pantomime Society at Summertown church hall in Oxford.
Susan Crow, centre, who took the part of the princess, is seen with fellow actresses, left to right, Heather Yardley, Anna Wells, Alice Kemp and Margaret Watson.
Dorothy Corden wrote the script and lyrics and the music was by her son Kenneth, a BBC2 producer.
Schools often also produced pantomimes and among them was Cowley St John Upper in Oxford.
Picture 6 shows the cast of Aladdin who produced some magic moments for audiences over three nights in 1981.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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