8mm Forum: Portland Films - Nostalgia Reigns !

This is topic Portland Films - Nostalgia Reigns ! in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=009093

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on April 05, 2014, 04:24 AM:

Still checking films.

A yellow 400' box printed as CineVision Home Movies but with paper stickers "Superb Big Screen Home Entertainment" - says Portland Pete. Use our speedy mail-order service or call at our shop open 7 days a week. Portland Films Ltd., 55 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W.1.

What a glorious place that sounds, and open 7 days a week. Collectors never had it so good.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on April 05, 2014, 04:39 PM:

Maurice. Portland Films was one of the first film shops I ever visited. From about 1979 until just before they closed forever. I used to get a "Stardust" mini breaks leaving Wakefield BR Intercity 125 First Class for extra £5 at 6pm get to London about 8pm get a film in, and Saturday visit Portland to spend a few pounds on films, also Harrods. Then a show. The value of these weekend breaks was fantastic, I did about five a year.

I picked up 'The Day Of The Triffids' scope feature for £20, and loads of Tom & Jerry's and other 200ft reels.

The shop could be here or here

Now time plays tricks on my memory the first link seems the correct place, but the second is the correct address. The shop if memory serves was L shaped with white wooden film holders down the middle. Heaven it was.

The full image

As you will see they had some other shops too. I visited 45 New Oxford St, but it was not Portland. Could have been Mountain Film or Movie Makers, Mountain were West Central Street, which was at the side of 45.

I do like going back in time to the good old days. Oh starting to feel old now and only 56.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on April 05, 2014, 04:48 PM:

For some reason, I remember the address as being Shaftesbury Ave., or was that a different firm?

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on April 05, 2014, 05:00 PM:

Fantastic memoirs David! I was unfortunately just born a little too late to be travelling to London from Manchester in 1979 but I can only imagine the excitement of what you did in that era during the absolute peak of super 8mm!

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on April 05, 2014, 05:22 PM:

I think they changed the name a couple of times. I think Portland were the retail arm of Mountain Films. It was Portland I went to on 55 Shaftesbury Ave, and it could have been the Sunday morning before I returned home.

Anyone got any photos from when they were operating? In fact any company that was around at the time.

Posted by Ricky Daniels (Member # 95) on April 07, 2014, 06:26 AM:

David,

I'm with you, I recall Mountain Films in Oxford St moving to Shaftsbury Ave and I think morphing to Portland Films. When they were in Oxford St I recall their Star Wars promos... cripes getting a print before the cinema release, cool!

Best,
Rick

Posted by Colin Robert Hunt (Member # 433) on April 08, 2014, 04:12 PM:

My friend used to work at Portland and that was in fact in Shaftbury Avenue. Spent many hours there in the evening behind the counter. Had many bargains when rhey sold off there Super 8 selection. Remember they sold the Cine Max projector that was the worst thing ever for film.

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on July 03, 2014, 12:10 PM:

I rember going to portland films i was just a kid and my dad gave me birthday money for films they where cheap and could get loads for a few pounds ,did lots of the 200ft and 50ft silent films also got one of those plastic projectors if you brought so many films ,think i visited it about 3/4 times was early 80s also had many film sent through the post ,also dealt with HOME MOVIES of barking at that time anyone rember that .

Posted by Paul Spinks (Member # 573) on July 03, 2014, 12:21 PM:

Home Movies of Longbridge Road, Barking. Sadly now only a distant memory. [Frown]

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on July 03, 2014, 12:40 PM:

Yes was a great place to get films ,i never visited but the woman on the phone was very helpfull and i brought lots of films through the post from there shame as with most film shops is long gone

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 03, 2014, 12:43 PM:

Funny thing is, the first thing I thought was, "There was a super 8 company in Portland Oregon, and I was the last person to know?

Boy, they had some stellar titles!!!

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on July 03, 2014, 01:02 PM:

A lot of the 200ft black and white silent horror films they sold for £2 make £10 ,i had hundreds wish i still had them ,not to sell but for my collection as hard to get nowdays ,good old portland films

Posted by Paul Spinks (Member # 573) on July 03, 2014, 01:07 PM:

She was a really nice lady, always very pleasant. They ran a video library alongside the Super 8 sales so I used to go in the shop quite regularly as I hired videos every week. They sold up and moved away from London and continued trading I believe but no longer in Super 8 sales.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on July 03, 2014, 01:30 PM:

I used to call in the shop virtually every day on my way home from stage school in London and it was really amazing to see all those films lined up on the shelves. Going back a bit now but it was really a wonderful time in my life although the childhood work schedule was gruelling. I always say I worked harder as a child than I do today... but the cine shops were quite something including Mountain.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on July 07, 2014, 12:06 PM:

In reply to David Ollerearnshaw the shop was in the second Google photo not on the corner but the small white fronted one behind the lamp post to the right. I've just found a photo I took of it in the later days when they sold video as well.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on July 07, 2014, 01:37 PM:

The one between the Steak House & Currency shop. Move a little and it changes into Headquarters Hairdressers, which I just searched for its at number 55.

Any chance of a scan of your photo?

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on April 29, 2015, 12:56 PM:

Portland Films, I had a 400ft Harold Baim film 'The World of Wax' it was in B&W but original was colour, I also had 'Son of Dr.Jekyll' and 'Mighty Joe Young' 400' from them. I seem to remember Portland used to advertise in the Sunday papers and the Exchange and Mart.Always a bargain to be had....

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on April 29, 2015, 01:58 PM:

Harold Baim He did quite a lot of documentries and some great pop ones Swinging UK, UK Swings Again these are great little films. Bain Films Still miss all those film shop though.phttp://www.baimfilms.com/ Happy Times

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on April 29, 2015, 02:11 PM:

Hi all,
I went to Portland films in the early 1980's on Shaftesbury Avenue - tiny place but stacked to the rafters with 8mm. I remember buying quite a few castle cartoons - inspector willoughby and chilly willy - still got them and sound and colour are still great.

David

Posted by Thomas Smith (Member # 1889) on April 29, 2015, 02:57 PM:

Just found my Portland Films Membership card what memories
And has address at 45 New Oxford Street.
I also remember Home Movies at Barking they stopped selling
Super 8 films I think in the early 1980s

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on April 29, 2015, 04:10 PM:

Have located the scan of the Portland Films Shaftesbury Avenue shop

A bit shaky as taken by street lights at night.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on April 30, 2015, 02:47 AM:

Thanks for that photo.

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2