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Bernard Goodwin, born during World War II in 1940, went to Heanor Grammar School, and still lives in the same house he was born in.
As a 12 year old, who was totally enamoured with the cinema and films, I never missed going to the pictures at least four times a week. Heanor in the 1950's had two cinemas: 'The Empire', where the better class films were presented; and 'The Cosy', small inside, and regarded by many as 'a flea pit', which nearly every town had.
Monday night at 'The Cosy' was serial night, perhaps 'Batman and Robin', and on Thursday, a different serial, maybe 'King of the Rocket Men', or something similar.
I recall a particular time when 'The Cosy' was scheduled to show part eight of 'Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe', when due to a sudden change of programme, it was realised that the next episode clashed with an 'X' film.
'The Snake Pit' starring Olivia de Havilland and Mark Stevens was an adult film, which meant that children under 18 years old could not be admitted to the cinema. To a 12 year old and his school mates, this was unbelievable, to miss part eight of our beloved 'Flash Gordon' was more than we could comprehend.
John Plumb, who was the manager, circulated a letter to all the schools in the area; and the local rag, 'The Heanor Observer', carried a declaration to all the townsfolk:
'As a result of a late programme change, all children who are following the serial 'Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe', will be given free admission to the cinema at 4:30pm on Monday'. Needless to say that as the time approached a large queue of children began to form along the front of Heanor Market Place.
As the doors of the cinema were opened, a capacity audience of children took their seats, both in the stalls, and in the balcony, which took the overflow. The performance, if you could call it that, lasted some 12 minutes, as an engrossed audience watched 'The Fiery Abyss', part eight of the serial.
A couple of policemen from the police station next door supervised their exit, controlling traffic as hundreds of little feet left the cinema, and made their way home. 'Flash Gordon' was returned to his transport 'can', ready for collection, and for the kids of the town a problem had been averted.
'The Cosy Cinema' lives on, as an indoor market, while 'Flash Gordon', played by Larry 'Buster' Crabbe, has passed on. Today it's possible to relive those moments as all twelve dynamic episodes are available on DVD, produced by Delta Music.
The nostalgia comes free, but the popcorn and ice cream are extra!
Bernard Goodwin, Heanor, 2002
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