Category Archives: History

As a stretford/old trafford girl both these places played a huge part in my life, I remember going with my parents to the longford when I was quite small, on sunday evenings once a month they
always had a live theare show and of course, I spent many a sunday evening on the back row sharing one of the very comfy double seats with the young man of the moment. I would love to
see it restored to it’s former glory.
Best of luck
Shirley Dowson nee Thompson

…it is part of my family history as my brother was the projectionist there for several yrs. I used to sneak in with my brother and sit up in the box or else creep in and sit on a back row in the dark to watch any films, I got thrown out a few times because some of the films were adult ones. I would only be about 10 or 12 yrs at the time. Happy days.
Christine Burrows

I first went to longford cinema pre 1939 war to watch errol flynn as robing hood. sticks in my memory as does many other lesser films during the war i seem to remember a local man called john comer who during a night of bombing went on stage to entertain as we where not allowed out as bombs were falling! john comer later became a actor appearing in films etc and “the last of the summer wine”. My s.i.l worked there when it first opened and i have seen a picture of the staff on the opening night, her name is betty badham now living in califoria usa. so many memories!!!
D Humphries – Stretford

My Mom, Betty Badham was one of the first girls to work at the Longford, I have heard many stories about what fun they all had, and I attended a movie their on a visit home. I do hope that something is done to preserve such a wonderful old building, so that it can become a viable part of your community again.
Verna Nelson. Modesto , California

I grew up in Stretford, living and breathing cinemas. Apparently my grandfather owned a tiny bughut in church st, off king st, where my mother and aunties worked. My brother David was the projectionist at the Drome and Longford for several yrs and was also leased out to work at the Rivoli in Chorlton and the Odeon Sale, after that he moved to a couple of cinemas in Salford, where from there he emigrated to NZ and worked in Wellingtons main cinemas. Whenever I visit Stretford I take photos of the old Longford, and post them to him. He says it breaks his heart to look at them as there were so many brilliant memories of the staff and events of that era. Please don’t let anyone rip it down it should have a listed building order slapped on it.
Christine Hartley – Italy