YORK'S Odeon cinema in Blossom Street was a much loved part of our city for seven decades.

It opened in a blaze of celebration on February 1, 1937 and closed almost 70 years later in August 2006, despite a city-wide appeal to keep it open.

Happily, the building remains today and is still a working cinema, run by Everyman.

Readers have been sharing their memories of the Odeon in our nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York - Memories (at www.facebook.com/groups/yorknostalgia/

Here are some of their recollections:

Denise Chesher: "Went to sat morning cinema every week 1shilling /5p got you entrance and an ice lolly or a hot dog, a real treat. I loved the sci fi series, cowboys not so much. Mr Pastry and old mother Reilly were favourites, also saw my first grown-up film, A Hard Days Night - the queue for the stalls went as far as Queen Street."

York Press: The Beatles' films were popular The Beatles' films were popular

Tanya Barker: "Only 5p in the early 70s for kids Saturday morning matinee. I got given 10p - 2p for bus ride in 3p on sweeties from the newsagents shop on the corner… best fun ever."

---

Read more:

* Memories and photos: the night the Odeon York opened

* 'Not the final curtain' - a look back at York's battle to save the Odeon

---

Anne Masters: "Had my first date there in 1966. Don't know who was more petrified him or me. I did however, marry him in 1974! Great memories."

Gilly Howe: "It was my favourite place as a child - just loved it, so magical! Saw all the Disney films there plus Mary Poppins! Still love going now."

Paul Eurich: "Remembered watching A Hard Day's Night and Help at the Odeon at the height of Beatlemania. The screaming was absolutely deafening!"

Chris Barlow: "Cartoons to start and if it was your birthday you got up on stage if I remember correctly That was on every Saturday morning think it was six pence to get in?"

Andy Cross: "Met the wife there for our second date in 1982 whilst I worked at RAF Leeming, married in 1986 and still going strong. Years later both returned to watch Titanic - lovely memories."

Colin Taylor: "I worked there part-time from 1987-1994ish. Remember manager Barbara Gledhill, deputy Pam Fallon, and the lovely assistants Doreen, Kathleen and co. And what a time to do it: all those late night Rocky Horror Shows, Terminator 2, Roger Rabbit, Fatal Attraction, Batman, Naked Gun etc. I was then poached to work at Warners at Clifton Moor for their opening. Don’t worry, I was soon back in Blossom Street with all their secrets!"

York Press: Interior of York Odeon when it opened in the 1930sInterior of York Odeon when it opened in the 1930s

Bernard Wells: "Working opposite in 1943 saw the great queues of people waiting to see Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in Road to Morocco; I was 14 then."

If you love looking at old photos of York, make sure to buy The Press every Wednesday for our weekly nostalgia supplement and join us in our Facebook group, Why We Love York - Memories. Join us at www.facebook.com/groups/yorknostalgia/.