WE'VE fondly looked back at the many guises of the Jubilee Hall in Weymouth.

Thanks to Margaret Wellspring of Crossways who got in touch to share her many happy memories of when the building was the Gaumont Cinema, back in the 1950s and 1960s.

Margaret recalls: "To me as a child, this was the most wonderful building with its steps up to the long corridor leading to the ticket booth. There was a brass hand rail down through the middle and photographs in frames of the movie stars of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, on the wall, this led to the sweeping stairs up the circle.

"At the top of the stairs was a bar area, decorated in what I thought was in Caribbean pirate style. I never saw this bar open, but then I only went to the cinema during the day, so maybe it was used for the evening performance.

"The first film I saw at the Gaumont was back in 1955, when mother took us children to Fess Parker in Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier. "It was very special occasion for me, although to my brother and two sisters this was no big deal, as they went to the Saturday Morning Picture there, I was always too young to go with the other children.

"As time went on there were many memorable films I went to see there. Sitting in the circle was a particular treat, with the ornate décor and lighting, looking down towards what seemed like a giant screen. There were private boxes each side of the circle, but no one ever seem to sit in them.

"And of course, there was the usherette in her smart uniform who showed us to our seats with her torch, then reappeared in the intermission with her tray of ice creams, as the programme was always a double bill.

"I remember the cinema showing the giant blockbuster films for the whole summer season. Films like West Side Story, My Fair Lady and the Sound of Music, the latter mother and I went to see at least three or four times.

"But the summer of 1965 was something else – something Weymouth had never seen the like before and never did again. The cinema screen was packed away, the stage opened up and a summer season to rival anything its namesake theatre in Southampton put on, a teenager’s dream.

"We had The Hollies, with all their original members including Graham Nash.

"They were supported by Big Dee Irwin (Would You Like to Swing on a Star) and Millie of My Boy Lollipop fame. Top pop stars of the time just didn’t come to Weymouth.

"If my memory serves me right, the cinema did return for a week after the Hollies’ season, for the showing of the Beatles second film Help! But then the screen was packed always again for what must be the most important pop show in the Weymouth’s history – the Rolling Stones on a one-night stand!

"Again, it was all the original members including the late Brian Jones with his long blond hair, strumming his guitar in his unique style. I remember sitting in the stalls surrounded by screaming girls, with some hanging over the balcony of the circle and others almost throwing themselves out of those private boxes that I’d never seen anyone in before.

"And when they sang their latest release,It’s All Over Now, the place went wild. It was certainly a night to remember and who would have thought them, the Stones would still be performing more than 50 years later. They were supported by the Barron Knights who were very popular at the time with their hit single Call Up the Groups."

Margaret says she's sure many others have memories of the Gaumont, especially that night when the Rolling Stones came to town.

She added: "Now, every time I walk past the site it makes me very sad, I see the redundant Clipper pub, and think, how we lost such a wonderful place – for what?"

Contact Looking Back using the details below if you have fond memories of shows and films at the Gaumont.