'Back in our time ...'

Whenever I meet up with some of my contemporaries someone will inevitably say, "Well back in our time ...".

I often wonder about this well-worn cliche.

Does it mean a time when we considered ourselves to be masters of the universe or simply a time very different to the present day?

One thing I do know that as teenagers growing up in Woy Woy in the 50s, we enjoyed an exciting and fabulous time, although it is probably a truism to say that most of us were unaware of this until much later in life.

For a start, the Peninsula boasted three picture shows all owned and run by the Riley family.

We were always treated to two movies which were preceded by Movietone News and a cartoon usually featuring Tom and Jerry or Woody Woodpecker.

The first feature was normally a cowboy movie with either Hopalong Cassidy or Tom Mox being the favourite.

Tonto or Lassie filled minor roles.

Predictably the Indians always lost.

There was never any sign of blood but deaths were mostly prolonged and terribly melodramatic.

At interval you would dash out to buy a few pennies worth of mixed lollies or an ice-cream for threepence.

The main feature would be the latest release.

Brigadoon, Oklahoma and various biblical epics were some of the movies being shown.

The Riley brothers also operated the local bus company from their depot on the corner of Barrenjoey Rd and West St.

Interestingly enough, I recently discovered one of their earliest buses in the bus museum located at Tempe.

The name "Riley Bros" and "Ettalong Beach" appeared on the vehicle which is completely in its original state.

One interesting fact was that the Ettalong Theatre (now occupied by the community centre) was also used by the Catholic Church for Sunday Mass.

Vince Smith would set up the amplification equipment and the nuns would take care of the altar.

Instead of Stations of the Cross, large black and white photographs hung on the walls featuring all the current movie stars.

It must have been rather distracting for the lady parishioners to concentrate on their prayers while Gregory Peck, Cary Grant, James Dean and Victor Mature were keeping an eye on them.

Occasionally one would also find a blob of chewing gum or a half eaten Mintie firmly stuck on one's knees whilst genuflecting.

However, the Parish Priest, the highly respected Dr Walter Baker, had no difficulty in ensuring the minds of the congregation did not wander, when he gave one of his eloquent and stirring sermons.

Apart from going to the movies (television came much later), there was roller-skating at the Umina Theatre and the Pacific Cabaret at Ettalong.

The latter was constructed by the Bird family where Barrets Hotel previously stood on the beachfront.

At various times, the cabaret was also used for the annual Rotary and Apex balls.

The Apex Club also used the hall to stage the annual Home Makers Exhibition where local business houses showcased their wares.

Then there was mini golf in Ocean View Rd, horse riding on the horse estate on the corner of Ocean Beach Rd and McMasters Rd as well as tennis courts which were well patronised.

We always looked forward to the Christmas holidays when there was a huge influx of visitors to the Peninsula.

There was at the time a plethora of guest houses and holiday homes to choose from and you would be lucky to find a vacancy in any of the camping areas.

There were carnivals operating at Umina and Ettalong and there were always large crowds at the Housie Halls.

I can well remember Jack Lewry going through the numbers, "Shut the gate number eight", "Legs 11 number 11", and so on.

And, there were regular dances at the Masonic Hall, the RSL Club and Ocean Beach Surf Club.

Fred Landman, Daley's Point