WHO remembers the ABC Minors?
They were the youngsters who flocked to the cinema in Oxford every Saturday morning for a special children’s show.
They would sing the ABC Minors’ song before settling down to watch cartoons, the latest episode of a serial, and a film.
The shows began after the Second World War. They ran for 35 years and until the last few years, they were always popular.
They were first held at the Regal cinema in Cowley Road, then when that closed in 1970, they were switched to the Ritz in George Street.
The curtain fell on the shows in 1980 when television shows such as Tiswas and Swap Shop began to take their toll on attendances.
Ted Reed, manager of what by then had become the ABC cinema, said at the time that the numbers of children coming to the shows had fallen steadily over the previous seven years, and for the last three, attendances had not even covered the cost of renting the films.
He said: “When they were held at the Regal, which had about 1,600 seats, it was often packed out, but now we average only about 70 children a week.
“I think television has had a lot to do with it. It’s a great pity.”
Die-hard ABC Minors were devastated by the decision.
Susan Malone, a 13-year-old regular, said: “It’s terrible. I don’t know what I will do instead. I suppose I will have to watch television.”
One ray of hope came when Mr Reed told the children he would try to arrange an occasional mid-week matinee during school holidays, and it was hands up all round when he asked for those in favour.
But there is no record of the ABC Minors surviving even in this limited form.
Any memories of the ABC Minors to share with readers?
Write and let me know.
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