My first 8mm rental shop!!

[Mark Williams]

[Mark Williams]

My first 8mm hire shop..the owner was creepy and wore a black eye patch!!!

Whitehorse Road by Union Road,West Croydon.

[Mark Silvester]

Hi,

classic characters back in those days? Lol!

Tony Powell was a character...Keith Wilton had some "scary" encounters I believe when Tony had a a few drinks which he did in those days! ( I think Tony had thrown some film boxes at him! )... I'd be interested to know if Tony Powell is alive..him or his "liver" Lol

Mark

[Martin Davey]

What a wonderful photo!

[Osi Osgood]

Is that Powell of "Powell Films"?

[Mark Silvester]

Hi Osi

yes Tony Powell of "Powell Films"

Had some great releases in his time - and apparently a real character. Derek Simmonds told me few stories as well about Tony.

The last I heard - I cannot confirm if it is true but Tony had a book shop or something , Cornwall way. Its what I heard.

Mark

[Lee Mannering]

Would dearly love to turn the clock back to mine. Dear Mr Swan at Swan Studios Strood Kent which was mainly a Cine trader and film hire library, closely followed by Barry Wiles Films in Sittingbourne my favorite haunt and a boy. What wonderful times they were for this young boy.
Time truly does fly by Mark.

[Mike Newell]

Mark, Tony Powell must be dead by now. He was our age or older 30 years ago. If he is still alive or preserved then drink really is good for you. Heard that story about the reel throwing at Keith many times. As somebody said to Keith at Blackpool. “Maybe you said something to annoy him “😡. Tony did release some good titles that others no names quickly bootlegged for themselves and undercut him in price.

Remember, Ron Browning aka as Dane Films or Highgate in Cornwall the famous Indian Queens address. He always had rare titles that no one else had but pity help you if you weren’t happy. He was an angry menace.

Mike

[Mark Williams]

Some great memories eh?....sadly Tony Powell went to the great projection box in the sky years ago he was a lovely chap too and put out some fine releases of his own over the years.

RIP Tony

[Steve Carter]

Bernco Films, Bloomfield road, Brislington Bristol, 8mm, 16mm and later video tape.

[Mike Newell]

Erne Films 9 Celtic Park Enniskillen run by John Woods and I think there was also a brother. Fanatical about super 8 to the point of madness they distributed everybody else’s releases and sold them at a discount. He had the Biggest catalogue of titles ever seen which was like a reference book. He gave the impression he was actually releasing them all. The only 8mm film he was involved in personally releasing was a 400ft digest of Pope John Paul II visit to Ireland. He was also involved in the much longer video release. Apparently, both were best sellers. Mind you I haven’t seen that title turning up on any sales lists. Last heard of John had set his own religious group. This wasn’t a surprise as he was heading that way when involved in film.

[Brian Fretwell]

Perry's Movies, when they were in South Wimbledon Standard 8. But I soon changed to buying Super 8 films there.

[Mike Newell]

I think I actually dealt with Keith Perry in the early days of dealing with Perry’s. That would be 1980. First order was Santorini travelogue Night of the Big Heat and Queen Victoria funeral. Obviously, Ian was an absolute Star ⭐️ at Perry’s. But if you could time your selling experiences to when he was at a convention and got a price from Arthur 😁😁it was a classic moment.

[Dave Groves]

In the 1950's I used to visit Galloways and Harrison's Opticians in Birmingham. Both had a drawer of 9.5 silent films-30ft 5/- (25p) and 60ft 9/6d (47p approx). My first purchase was 'Burmas-Polar maid' to feed my Pathescope Ace. Later I would visit Derann but it was more to look than buy as money was tight and films expensive!

[Osi Osgood]

As far as I know, I can't think of any rental shops that existed here in the U.S., (someone will probably set me to rights on that). The super 8 I remember seeing was stands in the local camera shop, filled with Disney titles. Once, I was on vacation with my Grandparents, and we had just seen Star Wars in the theater, and we stopped in a little town a few miles further, entered a K-mart, and I was fascinated that they had reels of Star Wars for sale! My grandparents didn't buy it for me.