Retiring after half century working in cinema industry
THE end credits have rolled for the last time for a Torquay cinema worker who retired after 50 years in the industry.
Mike Plews has stepped down as the assistant manager Central Cinema in Torquay after a lifetime of films, stories and meeting stars.
Mike, 65, from Brixham said: "It has been my love from the word go, from leaving school, when I first started, right through to this summer's blockbuster.
"I have worked for so many companies but still doing the same jobs."
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Starting his career as a management trainee with ABC Cinemas in his home town of Nottingham, Mike said things have come a long way up to the films shown on his last day which included Batman The Dark Knight.
During his career, he has been involved with film premieres attended by royalty in London and even seen stars sneak into see shows in secret.
"Over the years, it has been great. I have met so many people in different towns and cities and have fully enjoyed it.
"I've been involved with royal premieres attended by the Queen and Princess Di when I was at London's Shaftesbury Avenue and when I was at Fulham Road in the capital, we had a lot of stars come in incognito.
"Some would walk in like an ordinary customer and were unrecognisable.
"Some, like David Tomlison, used to come in for a drink beforehand but we had Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Dave Allen who used to come in between shows to relax and see a film.
"Some made themselves known and some didn't."
But he said it was a common misconception that cinema workers get to see all the movies.
"It's a myth that you see all the films. You are running a business like any other and it takes a lot of groundwork which the public don't see or know about.
"Things have progressed a lot over the years with the different sound systems, from old-style projectors beaming images of Cinerama, 35mm and 70mm, westrex sound with one speaker behind the screen to Dolby surround sound and, finally, to digital projection with all the latest technology and modern multiplexes.
"Things have changed an awful lot because there is so much for people on the home entertainment front so cinemas there is now better sound and vision and you have 3D now.
"It is about the experience you have got to see it on the big screen."
Mike said his favourite films include The Magnificent Seven, Where Eagles Dare, Towering Inferno and, recently, The Descendants.
Mike plans to continue helping as midday supervisor at Eden Park school after retiring.
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