1 9 7 6 (UK)
7 x 25 minute episodes 1 9 7 8 (UK)
6 x 25 minute episodes
When his Aunt Mattie dies, Peter Potter (Eden Phillips) inherits a small rundown Lancashire cinema facing financial difficulties, and struggles to keep it open.
Key characters include scatty projectionist Melvyn Didsbury (Melvyn Hayes), doorman Sidney Bogart (John Comer) and wide-eyed usherette Joan Biddle (Angela Crow).
The baddie of the piece is evil cousin Reggie Turpin (David Lodge) who wants to close down the cinema so he can redevelop the site and tries to split the loyalties of the eccentric staff of the little cinema with the aid of his inept sidekick Frank Plank (Colin Edwynn).
The cinema’s only regular customer is ‘The Kid’ (Bruce Watt), who was replaced in the second series by the brat Desmond Bagshaw (Mark Dempsey).
The BBC1 series spoofed a number of blockbuster movies including Star Wars, King Kong and Jaws.
The cinema used for location shooting was the now-defunct Hale Cinema near Altrincham in Cheshire.
Peter Potter
Eden Phillips Sidney Bogart
John Comer Joan Biddie
Angela Crow Frank Plank
Colin Edwynn Melvyn Didsbury
Melvyn Hayes Reggie Turpin
David Lodge The Kid
Bruce Watt Desmond Bagshaw
Mark Dempsey
Episodes
That Darned Kid! | The Phantom of the Palace | The Little Dictator | The Night of the Triffids | The Mouse That Snored | Gums | King Kong Phooey || Gold Fever | The Great Escape | One of Our Spaceships Is Missing | The Girl Friend | Gone Dancing | Down Memory Lane
