Cinemas have been sadly closing all over Scotland of late, a subject recently tackled in a Big Read special by our Writer at Large Neil Mackay.

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The topic brought forth an amusing anecdote from one of our readers today.

John Crawford of Preston writes:

"Recent articles about efforts to rejuvenate old cinemas reminded me of the last few years in the life of the George Cinema in Beith.

The programme usually stated the big picture would finish at 10.20pm. This was a problem for the projectionist (by then also the manager) who lived in Saltcoats and the last bus to Ardrossan passed the cinema at 10.10pm.

So where appropriate, the film was "jumped on". For example, the hero would arrive at the foot of a long winding staircase and next thing, was at the top. What looked like the start of a promising extended fistfight would invariably show the loser lying prostrate in the next frame. A couple going for a swim would be seen approaching the river bank, then immediately towelling themselves off. The credits were simply abandoned, culminating with a few opening bars of the National Anthem. As we trooped downstairs, our man was waiting at the doors, padlock and chain in hands to bid us a cheery "Goodnight".

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And as we all crossed the road to where we'd parked the cars, in the distance we'd see the Western SMT bus heading for the bus stop to pick up its solitary passenger."