During the late 1940s the Ninian cinema on Penarth Road was the only place of entertainment for the kids and people of Grangetown.Most of the films were American, and the Ninian changed them twice a week.
It was standard thinking then that attending the 'pictures' too much encouraged delinquency in children.
My mother a wonderful freethinking woman did not hold this viepoint. She often went to the 'Nin' twice a week taking me with her. Together we saw all sorts of pictures there, gangster and cowboy pictures were my favourites.
Sometimes I would question her about particular parts of a film I didn't understand like prohibition or the American civil war. She would explain these basic points to me, but always encouraged me to read and learn more about these issues from the library.
As I grew older I read more serious and scholarly work about history developing a love of the subject that I still hold today.
My mother wasn't around when I obtained my degree in American studies, but as I collected it, I found myself quietly saying to her,"Top of the world Ma!".
"Top of the world!" just like James Cagney said at the 'Nin' all those years ago.
your comments
Roy Taylor
I used to live in Redlaver Street and spent many happy hours in the old Nin. I remember being dragged out many times by my mother on a Saturday evening, when after going to the afternoon showing I would stay put in my seat just to watch the first "10 minutes" or so of the evening show. This inevitably stretched on until my irate Mother turned up and pulled me from the cinema with dire threats about how I was never going to be allowed in the Nin again. I don't remember missing too many shows though, happy days!!
Gaynor Biggs, Grangetown
My husband and I have lived in Grangetown all our lives and the most vivid memories I have of the Nin was watching Flash Gordon on a Saturday morning. I lived in Jubilee Street and so the trip to the Nin was very exciting to me at that time, as it seemed quite a journey when you're a child of about 8. There used to be a gang of us who met up, and queued for 10 minutes to get in, as it was a very popular venue in the late 60s. During the interval, I used to go out and get my Fab lolly and some sweets. A Saturday morning was always something to look forward to. Fond memories.
Irene Bressington (nee Williams), Caerphilly
It brought back some happy memories and some not so good, I do remember having chewing gum thrown at my hair!! But then I also did a lot of courting with my husband Mike Smith-Phillips in the Nin till it closed. Like Wini it was always a Clarks Pie on the way home to Amherst Street.
Chris Harris, Sydney, Australia
I used to live with my nan in Pentre Street Grangetown and I have very fond memories of going to see movies in the Nin, and of rushing over to Penarth Road every week to see which new movie was showing. Even mitching off from Ninian Park School once or twice to see a movie. It's been almost 20 years since I've been back to Grangetown but I try to keep in touch with the changes (good or bad) that are happening there.
Winifred Byrne (married name Beddoes, Fairwater
I have many happy memories of the Nin on Penarth Road. I was born in 1948 and lived in Bromfield Street, Grangetown. When I was a child we would enjoy the Saturday morning pictures. Then, when I was older we used to visit The Nin about three times a week. You really didn't need to go the cinemas in town. On the way home, usually on the Friday night we would call into Clarks Pie Shop in Bromsgrove Street, buy a pie and eat it on the way home. Happy days!!
Pat Dacey Hughes, Tonteg
I too remember the old Ninian, I lived just up the road in Blaenclydach Street and used to go quite often. It was a source of enjoyment during the war especially.
