There is a certain delight in getting older, especially if one gets caught up in a conversation about ‘the good old days’ with some contemporaries of the same age group.
Picture this scene. Some old cronies are having a braai. The background music is of course a selection of golden oldies.
There was a moment of silence when High Noon, by Tex Ritter played. It was of course the musical score of the famous film with the same title. The film which was released in the late’ 50s and featured Grace Kelley and James Gardner.
This set a whole new theme for the night. The younger members of the group got a glazed look of boredom in their eyes while we were talking away.
In the late ’50s and early 60’s in South Africa, films were wonders to behold. It dominated conversations and newsprint.
There was hardly anything else to write about.
During the conversation we recalled that the Saturday matinee shows were cultural meeting places for a wide range of children.
Children and young people flocked to the shows that started at 14:00.
One paid the equivalent of today’s R1 to get in. Armed with a big bag of slap chips and a piece of fish reeking of vinegar that cost 50c and everybody tried to get into the front seat.
Sitting in front or at the back was the safest. In the middle section one was in danger of being bombarded by pop orn, chips, coke bottles or chewing gum, which was usually Wicks bubble gum or even large white Wilson toffees.
When the curtain before the screen went up, there was usually loud cheering and whistling almost similar to Loftus when the Bulls run on the field.
First it was time for the cartoon usually Tom and Jerry.
After that it was time for the trailer. In those days there was a film showing every Saturday afternoon in half-hour episodes almost like todays soapies on TV. A famous one was Batman and Robin which brought droves of kids back Saturday after Saturday to see the conclusion.
There were usually two cowboy films on a Saturday afternoon’. Actors in these B-grade movies where usually the singing cowboys, Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Roy Rodgers and his horse Silver. These were the singing cowboys. After a fierce gunfight in which hundreds of American Indians were slain, the cowboys usually produced a guitar and burst out in song.
After the second film the curtain came down and everyone stood at attention when Die Stem was played.
