When The Exchange team put an appeal out for memories on Facebook’s discussion groups, we were delighted to receive messages from a number of ex-cinema staff who have been sharing their photographs, souvenirs and memories. One of those, Rory Lushman began working at The Exchange as a projectionist in 1981 when it was a Classic Cinema and then a Unit 4. He then became a manager before it changed to the Apollo.
Rory (pictured on the left) has some great stories to tell of his memories of the famous Pearl and Dean theme tune playing several times daily, 3 minute epic production advertisements for cigarettes and the 19 week run of ET. He can also recall how people often re-arranged the display letters round outside the cinemas to spell out hilarious anagrams of the names of the films showing! He’s sent us a number of fantastic photos for our archives including these. We’re pleased to say that Rory will be joining us on Saturday 9 September as a tour guide on our hard hat tours for Heritage Open Days.
Look out for Rory speaking to Beccy Barr on BBC Northwest Tonight this week along with our trustees, Ray Smith from Blackburn History Group and past cinema patron, local resident Barry Greenwood with his wife, Jean.
