Discover the charming history of Wycombe’s Majestic cinema and its unique advertising methods
Wycombe: You know, it’s pretty cool to think about how the Majestic cinema used to be the heart of the town. David, the son of the original owner, has this amazing collection of scrapbooks. He’s even shared some photos on the SWOP website, which is a real treat for anyone interested in local history.
Among those photos, I picked out five that really show off the clever advertising tricks they used back in the day. It’s fascinating to see how they promoted films.
One of the standout images features six usherettes dressed as sailors for the film ‘Jack Ahoy’. Can you imagine that? It was a British comedy from 1934, and those ladies really brought the cinema to life.
Another fun shot shows some cars for sale at Gregory’s garage, right across from the Majestic. They had these cardboard cut-outs of Mae West to grab attention. Talk about a marketing strategy!
And then there’s this adorable pony cart advertising ‘My Old Dutch’. It’s a film about a couple’s ups and downs over forty years. Just picture that scene in front of the cinema!
The Majestic itself was decked out to promote ‘The Private Life of Henry VIII’. It’s wild to think about how they transformed the building to draw in crowds.
One of my favorite images is of Cyril Chalk in an open-top car outside the cinema, with a Mae West cut-out beside him. The film ‘I’m No Angel’ was showing, and her famous line, “Come Up And See Me Sometime!” was on display. It’s such a charming glimpse into the past.
