Potter's Picture Palace

This was one of the best kid's TV programmes of the year. Made more interesting to watch as I was working as a stand-in manager and occasional projectionist (for a Mr Hamilton) at Hale Cinema (between Hale and Altrincham in Cheshire - as it was - now Trafford.) at the time. I had to be around some of the time as the set 'decoration' was being constructed, such as the dummy walls just outside the cinema entrance, and was an occasional background extra. I lived in Byrom Street back then, a short distance from the cinema, now sadly demolished.

It's a little known fact that the cinema used on location was Hale Cinema, Nr Altrincham Cheshire. It's no longer in existence and therefore maybe this is not just an entertaining children's programme but also a historical document. I was a child of 13 at the time when this was made and I remember meeting Melvyn Hayes outside the cinema as I lived just round the corner on Victoria Road. What struck me back then how was how many TV stars used to live in Hale, Norman Rossington was a regular visitor so too was Bob Greeves, Fred Talbot and Michael Lavelle. I hope one day they put this to DVD as I have many fond memories watching them set up the television equipment and seeing the actors perform. I used to attend Hale cinema as a 7 year old to watch the Saturday Matinée. This is one of the best made for TV children's programme ever made and I was disappointed that it only ran to 8 episodes.