Before the multiplex took over the world there was an abundance of picture halls. Most of these cinemas were what were called flea pits. It didn’t matter that they were called flea pits, they were still filled to capacity. Affordable and with a wide variety of fare on offer, the films did a roaring trade with the populace. These were the days of the ice-cream lady with her tray of ice-cold goodies. The usher with a torch. The likeable greeter at the foyer. (Walmart retired greeters from their stores recently, a business update you might have missed) Cinemas employed a vast variety of people- from cleaners to admin staff.
My mother told me recently that my uncle James worked as a projectionist in one of the picture halls. And then she told me of the time uncle James turned up for work, let’s just say, worse for wear. James put the reels on wrong and the film played upside down. The audience were vocal in their consternation. James retrieved the situation and got things back to normal. He didn’t get fired. He continued working for a good few more years.
Boadicea's Chariot 
They are still there if you know where to look.
The Brynamman Picture House, owned by the Union of Miners and still going strong, £4.00 per ticket full price. Real ice cream ladies, no stinking popcorn and mirabile dictu you can still smoke!
Very busy it is at the left hand end of the old anthracite field N of Swansea, one valley over from where I lived, but a bloody dreadful journey hairpin road over the mountain. Last picture I saw there was the Titanic!
It was always very wise to get over the mountain back to Llangadog before you hit the pubs!!!
Wonderful place Wales, 50 years behind the times and thank God for that.
My brother-in-law was so inspired by life as an assistant cinema manager as a teenager that he joined the Police.
That journey is straight out of the opening scene of a James Bond film, Christina. Hair-rasing stuff. All the old halls have disappeared and I miss the ice-cream lady so much.
This was the Seamore cinema that stood on Maryhill Road, Glasgow. It enticed patrons with the slogan- “See more at the Seamore”. Maryhill Road alone had about ten cinemas at its peak.
Well if you are ever in S Wales!
It has a web site, check it out.