Memories of the Palace Cinema (From Gazette & Herald)

Memories of the Palace Cinema

NEWS that the Palace Cinema will open its doors once again must be good news, and what memories that dear place brings back. The town's centre of entertainment once upon a time, especially when it was on an excellent distribution circuit and Malton was getting films as soon as the West End. Harry Baxter, in black bow tie and evening suit, was there in the foyer to greet the patrons, chocolates and sweets were available at the box office to add to the pleasure of the evening out, and of course the ice cream girls came round halfway, and all was very civilised. The wonder of the age when it first opened were the double seats at the back of the cinema where all the courting couples headed for. No longer separated from your currently-loved-one by an arm rest, and snuggling up was the order of the evening. I wonder how many marriages owe their existence to the double seats of the Palace?

On another subject, John Stone of Norton writes, seeking views on the possibility of a Heritage Centre for Malton and Norton, which really is what is needed, for we don't have anywhere which deals with the more recent history of the twin towns. John thinks that perhaps The Lanes could be developed along these lines, and indeed that would, I should think attract much local interest, for the average person often can more easily relate to "history" to which he or his parents can actually remember, rather than specialised ancient history.

Talking to John Sturdy at Old Malton when I stopped pedalling for a few minutes, and he stopped mowing his lawn. I echoed the feeling of so many folk who were sad to see the end of Eden Farm Insight which he was running there. This was a heritage centre in its own right, and of the many artefacts which he has saved, these could form part of a town's heritage centre, especially in view of our largely rural environment. Pickering and Hutton-le-Hole can operate them successfully, why not Norton and Malton?

The naming of Salter(s)gate keeps cropping up because of a new signpost bearing its historically spelled name, and a letter from John Lumsden (that's John number three in this edition) of Pickering comments on its origins due to the carriage of salt along the road to Whitby for fish salting. He gives his views on its origins and the world "gate", which were confirmed to me by a local lady the other day, meaning a "way" or "road to", rather than a gateway or barrier, and thus logically we come back to what it must surely have been, "The Salt Road". That there was a toll cottage there does not imply that there was a barrier across the road, which would be very doubtful I suggest. Clive Inman, of Norton, adds some interesting facts he gathered together for me including the origin of the word "gate" which is Old Norse (Scandinavian) - gata - meaning a road, way or street. And as for Saltersgate this is an occupational Old English derivation of saltere, or "Salt-worker" in respect of the road to Saltburn, and which carried salt which had been mined in Cleveland. John Number Three also mentioned that at one period, salt was a very high-value product, and in fact Roman soldiers received part of their pay in salt.

To change the subject, my small monthly newsletter from the Autumn Tints (a cycling fellowship) often has jokes sent in by members, and the two which follow gave me a laugh. The first, seen in the kitchen in a village hall, a notice which reads: "Will ladies please rinse out the pots, then stand upside down in the sink. On no account must hot bottoms be placed on worktops." And the second: Gardener - I put manure on my rhubarb. Lady - I put custard on mine.

Liz Todd, who works for the Gazette & Herald's sister paper, the Evening Press, told me that she'd been chasing up the old Scarborough North Bay lift which was sold to Launceston. She, like me, had assumed that this might be a seaside place and the lift would serve a similar purpose to when at Scarborough. Not so (so much for our geography) for it was purchased to get people up a steep hill to the castle. Mary Seager, now of Scarborough, but late of Norton and who worked at Malton Motors with me many years ago, also has news of this affair as it seems had the Scarborough Evening News which ran a story about it. It seems there was some "in-fighting" amongst the local civic leaders, and as a result the lift had lain idle for some years but appears to have been resurrected by the local civic society and hopefully will operate at Scarborough Gap in Launceston when final planning permission has been granted. We must surely wish them well, for what thousands of happy memories this old carriage must hold in store.

St George's Day on April 23, England's patron saint. Flags on sale in Newgate, and on the market - lets be nationalistic this year and fly our flag!

"The Englishman always wants to reason things out, even his love affairs." Voltaire (1694-1778).

Updated: 11:19 Thursday, April 18, 2002