[English Social History: A working-class London cinema-goer.] Two exercise books, filled with 385 manuscript entries by ‘Miss Renee Fish’ of Catford, detailing ‘Films I have seen’, between 1930 and 1934, and 1939 and 1943, at various London cinemas.

An interesting agglomeration of ephemera London cinematic information. The author is working-class or lower-middle-class. Two sturdy ruled small 4to exercise books, with black covers of ribbed watered cloth and spine of red cloth. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: 150pp. Ownership inscription on inside of front cover: ‘Miss Renee Fish, / 112, Allerford Road / Catford, / S.E.6.’ The first page is headed: ‘31. 12. 29. Films I have seen during 1930.’ Each of the volume’ The entries are numbered from 1 to 272, with an additional numeration for each year from the second year onwards. Each entry gives details of a visit, with one or two films, with the date, venue, whether afternoon or evening performance, and whether silent or ‘All Taking’, and names of stars and roles played by them. Four entries give details of musical accompaniment to films (see below). Venues: Brixton Astoria; Brockley Palladium; Capitol; Central Hall; Gaumont Palace; Lewisham Hippodrome; New Cross Kinema; Old Kent Road Astoria; Plaza; Prince of Wales; Queen’s Hall; Regal; Rivoli; Splendid. To give an example of the arrangement, the final entry in the book - which has the marginal entry ‘(46th time [in 1934]’ / (272nd time [in total]) / (A[fternoo]N.) (Saturday)’) - reads: ‘On October 27th at the “Plaza” we saw / Carl Brisson [ERIC LANDER], Jack Oakie [JACK ELLERY], Victor McLaglen [BILL MURDOCH] & Gertrude Michael [RITA ROSS] in “Murder at The Vanities (All Talking P[ictu]re) / also / Johnny Weissmuller [TARZAN]; Maureen O’Sullivan [JANE PARKER], Neil Hamilton [HARRY HOLT] & Paul Cavanaugh [MARTIN ARLINGTON] in “Tarzan and His Mate” (All Talking P[ictu]re)’. Additional notes beside entries: ‘Return of the Capitol Orchestra directed by Mr. Jack Gold’, ‘Reginald Foort at the organ’, ‘Fred Kitchen and his orchestra on the stage’, ‘ALBERT SANDLER TRIO ON THE STAGE’. A couple of entries have ‘NOVELTY NIGHT’ beside them, another has ‘variety night’, and a another has ‘PIANIST’. In addition to the film entries, the inside back cover gives details of a visit to the Lewisham Hippodrom on 20 October (year not stated), with five acts from ‘Tiny Mite & George Welford in “Contrasts”’ to ‘Lucille Binstead Variety’s greatest singer in coloured song characterisation featuring her famous song “Chloe”.’ Loosely inserted is an additional leaf, apparently a draft for entries 222 to 225, but with No. 222 ‘The Imposter’ instead of ‘I was a Spy’. In the margin: ‘Renee Fish / is up the pole’ and ‘Ide Alice Fish / 146. Tons / Tonsborough Cresent / Catford / S.E.6’. TWO: 58pp. Entries laid out in the same way as One, giving clear indication of wartime disruption, with cinema attendance cut in half from 1940, and what appear to be more reruns seen. Venues: Capitol; Gaumont, Lewisham; Gaumont, London; King’s Hall; Odeon, Bromley; Plaza: Queen’s Hall; Rialto; Rink, Sydenham; State, Sydenham; Stoll, London. The last entry reads - with marginal note ‘(6th time [in 1943]) / (A[fternoo]N.) (Saturday) / (624th time [in total])’: ‘On March 20th at the “Rialto” we saw: - / Ronald Colman [CHARLES RAINIER], Greer Garson [PAULA], Philip Dorn [DR. JONATHAN BENET], Susan Peters [KITTY], Reginald Owen [“BIFFER”] & Una O’Connor [TOBACCONIST] in “Random Harvest” / also / Guy Kibbee in “Scattergood Rides High.”’ Loosely inserted are eleven cuttings of ‘Quiet Corner’ newspaper thoughts by Patience Strong, with two cuttings relating to Arthur Askey.