Is there anyone around that worked for the A.K.C during the 1950`s and 60`s. That is both civilian and service?

Hi John,
I was a stepson of a RAF sergeant in Hannover and worked at Globe Cinema in Hannover. I started work at 15 with two german projectionists. After three months they sacked both Germans and made me Chief Projectionist (the only projectionist). I genuinely worked seven days a week for three years with only one two week holiday in three years. They paid me a fraction of what they paid the Germans. The Manager (Sandy Powell) always made certain he got his day off a week!
After my Father was posted back to the UK I lived in the 6th. Civilian Mess in Hannover (great times) as a 17 year old!

Then I moved to ASK Hohne - large Cinema, later converted to Bowling alley and then left vacant. I alternated from living in the Sergeants Mess and then back into the Cinema as I could not afford to buy two meals a day when living in the Mess.

Did relief projectionist work in places such as Lemgo.

Loved my time in Germany

Cheers,

John Grant
Newcastle, Australia

PS Play Up Pompey!!!

You wouldn't happen to know he location of the cinema and mess in Hannover would you John?

Hi John,
I was a projectionist in Liverpool before I joined the Army, and also did a course at Beaconfield in Bucks, I was Driver/Projectionist on my regiments Army youth team, in the early 60's

Hello John, Bexy and Kingo,

I was posted to Hannover for three weeks in 1959. Billited in the WO`s and Sgt`s Mess on Schlacht Haus Weg. Could well have been Langenhagen Barracks. At the time, we were employed indirectly by the War Office, and given WO`s and Sgt`s status. At the end of Schlacht Haus Weg, there was a slaughter House. In the early morning the pigs would arrive, and shortly afterwards you could hear them screaming. By the middle of the afternoon, you could smell them as they were being boiled. There was always a cloud of white steam over the place. Unfortunately I can no longer recall just where the Globe Theatre was located? But it might well have been in the city? All I can remember is that Hannover was a really nice city. By then mostly recovered from the war.

In reference to the Globe Lemgo. Yes I did again a three week stint there. Unfortunately I cannot recall who the manager was, but from my notes it was certainly a good posting. During my posting, I was put up in Stornoway Barracks. The theatre was outside somewhere down the road. To get to it, you had to pass an entrance to a D.P. camp. We were always told to be careful when passing the gate, but I never heard or saw any trouble.

Like you, I was a projectionist back in the UK, but having been turned down by the R.A.F for National Service, I volunteered for the next best thing -the A.K.C. Besides I was an army brat, having been to Germany twice, in 1947 and 1952, so I was eager to get back.
When I joined the A.K.C in London, I then became a British Based Relief Operator. But in emergencies I could stand in for the manager. My six years with the A.K.C. was spent with both British (1 year) and Canadian forces (5 years).
Happy days!!

Hi All,
Address of Globe Hannover was cnr. of Freundallee and Willestrasse (you turn of Hans-Bockler Allee (going in direction of Kleefeld from City Centre). It was on a corner block that was part of the German Barracks. The Brits had some use of the barracks originally as my brother and sister used to go to horse riding lessons in the barracks.

The Mess was diagonally opposite - same address. As you turned right into Willestrasse cinema was on right hand corner and across the road on left was the Mess.

Hey John - wonder if we met? I started work in Globe Cinema Hannover in 1959. Manager was Sandy Powell. Only person I remember coming to Cinema apart from Managemen was an Englishman that accompanied film - South Pacific. Todd - AO with magnetic sound stripe.

Cheers,

John

Hello John,

My god 1959, its such a long time ago, in fact 49 years ago.

Yes I was certainly there in 1959 as a relief operator. It was only for about two weeks, as the resident operator or operators were away possibly on manaeuvres. In some instances, I worked alongside the one who was left, and more often alone.

Well John, I could well have been the one, but after such a long time, and so many theatres, I just cannot remember now.

I usually remember details of my postings, especially when I was at a particular posting for a reasonable period of time, but Hannover was not one of them. However the name Sandy Powell definitely rings a bell.

Do you remember the circuit engineer, a Herr Wehrmann who would check all the projection equipment twice a year? The once a year inspections by the top brass, Mr Rycart, Mr Wilson and of course Brigadier Snowden?

Happy days!
John

Hello John Grant and others who worked for AKC. Im Malcolm James and releived you John at Hohne sometime in 63/64. I was at Hannover for two years until I left there owing to Sandy Powell not ever letting me have a day off. I went and did relief all over what was West Germany in those wonderful days. They were the best years of my life. I would like to hear from anybody who knew me at all such as you John and Alan Olsen.
Im at malcolmjames@london.com
Best to you all.

Malcolm

I too did a course at Beaconsfield as part of being a Gunnery and D&M instructor.(they did not have minefields in those days,but dogs to keep you away from the ATS quarters)I remember we had an AKC at Wesendorf,it was renowned for its own Zoo,I once dropped half a bar of chocolate on the floor there,and before I could pick it up the mice had it and were gone.Frequent screams were the order of the day as the mice trotted over the girls feet!The wife only went in there once - that was enough!
-----
Don

Does anybody have any info about the AKC globe cinema in the Schauberg in Iserlohn ? I think it was first used by the Canadians and then by the British up until it was handed over in 1970.I am researching the history of the Schauberg Iserlohn at the moment and there is little about the Canadian and British usage of the building.

I remember the Schauberg and seem to recall it was under British use. I don't actually recall it ever being used by the Canadians, however. There was a Globe Cinema in Fort Prince of Wales, though.

I seem to recall, in around 1971-72, the Schauberg had rock concerts...pretty sure it was at the Schauberg.

In some ways, I am rather surprised you can find so little info about the Canadian and British usage of the building, but on the other hand, it would appear, there is a dearth of information about what I would have thought to be a fairly significant portion of the area's history (i.e. The Canadian time and British era). In some ways, it's like we were never there. There just isn't that much commemoration present at all, apart from a hockey Denkmal in Deilinghofen and the odd plaque here and there.

Sad, really.

Hi John
I was a projectionist at the Elizabeth Cinema Bradbury Barracks in Krefeld while serving there between 1964-68. 16 Signal Regment
We had two Bauer 35mm projectors, the model of which I did never find out. My hobby was cinephotography and still photography and later I did a Projectionist course at Minden where I was "taught" both 35mm and 16mm. I even bought my own Agfa 8mm sound projector and a new camera! We used magnetic sripe in those days!
The other projectionist we had there was a Malcolm Margerison who like me was Royal Signals.
I thoroughly enjoyed the projection work at the AKC and the extra money which I think was DM4,- per show certainly helped my hobby!

Chris

Well Hello Hairy, from the other Mush

Len (Ciphers)

Flippin' 'Eck Mush everywhere I go you seem to follow!
If its not a genealogy group is a Royal Signals group and then here of all places! Just hope you were not in the AKC at any time!

You can follow me to the pub and buy me a pint!
Great to see you again!!
Chris

Ran the ship's (the Paraguay) cinema for the kids on board on my way home from the Suez cock up in '56 .. does that count ... as an aside beside a bunch of families being repatriated from Cyprus, ... we had the 2nd Btn Scots Guards aboard, they being part of 1st Guards Bde, 3 Inf Div (I was Brigade Cipher NCO). Being sod all to do on troopers most of the Guards boys used to sneak into the cinema to watch the cartoons with the Kids (remember these were Guardsmen) ... one of the favourites was Muffin the Mule .. all the Kids, and I mean all the Kids, used to sing the song We Want Muffin, Muffin the Mule as it came up on the screen. On docking at Southampton us Signals boys were marching off the dock when the tune of Muffin the Mule sung by a chorus of Wooden Tops echoed over the docks.. Great days ..

Len (Ciphers)