Post by Les on Dec 4, 2017 18:47:07 GMT
Maidstone I remember it well:
Ah yes Paynes fruit & veg shop near the top of Week Street where I used to buy a penny`s worth of "specs" (bruised & battered fruit) on the way home from school.
I remember being told years ago that Paynes the fruit shop sold for three million pounds when it closed down. Still who knows.
The Granada was my main venue for saturday morning pics. I think there was summat also going on at one of the other pic houses but cant recall. Hop-along-Cassidy, Roy Rogers, Flash Gordon (alias Buster Crabbe),
Old mother Reilly, I could go on. When the Granada was putting on the shows I was lucky enough to see Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and I think Joe Brown on the same bill.
My old man took me and I think even he enjoyed it. I recall the Granada being built. Something was knocked down to make way for it but I cant remember what it was. (vague recollection it was an older cinema) I Recall going to see the guy playing the piano marathon, I thought it was in the Regal but not sure.
I think the marathon was at the Palace in Gabriels Hill Mick as were the famous American Yo-Yo Stars. Are we sad or what?
There was a Brewery before the Granada was built.
While I grew up in Maidstone I havent been back there since 1987. Am I correct in remembering the "Golden Boot" shoe shop with a big Golden Boot outside as part of the signage being in Gabriels Hill? I remember it was the only shop in Maidstone that sold Clarkes shoes. I also remember Hubble & Freeman sports shop. Can anyone tell me where the model shop was that had a model train set in the window and you could operate it by putting a coin (cant remember how much)into a slot at the side of the window?
Yes Mike the Golden Boot is still there. The model shop that I remember was in Lower Stone Street but I have a feeling that at Christmas time Cheesemans had a model railway that you put money into. Anyone else help please.
Gilbert's Had a model train running in their window ,but don't remember having to put a coin in it.But remember a bird in a cage outside a shop in the Market Buildings ,Put a penny in and the bird would sing.