If you have a story to tell then send it to my email, and a photo or two would be nice.
This chapter features a collector and a gent whom I had the pleasure of meeting at a the Blackpool convention where he was helping his dad out. He is a staunch Disney fanatic and also presents the weekly podcast music show ‘Musicana’.
A Super 8 Story.
I have always loved the movies. Luckily for me, I grew up in a house full of 16 mm film. You see my Dad was Tony Hutchinson, ( Mr B/W ). I remember him buying Movie Maker magazine in the 70’s and reading ‘Bootlace Cinema.’ Eventually I talked him into buying me a Eumig Super 8 projector. I made the spare box room into a fabulous ‘mini cinema.’ I would always be excited when my Dad bought home the Derann catalogue full of goodies. My favourites were Star Wars on 400 ft and The Poseidon Adventure.’ Which were Christmas presents. I must have watched them 3-400 hundred times each!
Tony was always at the Derann Open days looking for bargains. On one occasion I visited the shop with him. I can still recall the glass cabinets housing the latest Super 8 films. And the shelves behind proudly displaying the ‘Scars of Dracula’ along with ‘ Countess Dracula’ as full features. It was the closest I have ever got to an ‘Aladdin’s cave. Sometimes we would run film shows for the pensioners at Christmas time, proudly showing 400 footers of ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Jolson Sings Again’ ( which I now have on 16 mm!).
For a youngster having your own cinema was magical. There were no video recorders back then, and only 3 channels. Summer holidays from school were spent showing films in the garage on a plain white sheet, to the delight of the youngsters on the estate who paid 5p for the privilege. Whenever I see a Derann catalog or flyer it whisks me back to when Mr B/W was by my side showing me how to lace my own projector. I’m so glad that Ged is continuing to spread the word and memories of Derann films. I suddenly become an excited 13 year old once again.
Mark Anthony.
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