WHILE browsing the Internet for any information about her St Helens hometown, Jean Mellinger, now living in America, came across a recent article, lifted from this page, about the old Parrvillion Cinema, better known to Jean and her girlhood friends from the 1940s as Parr Dog.

"I was transported back in time," she e-mails from Sonoma in California. "How well I remember that cinema at Fingerpost!" As a young girl, Jean and her young friends from around Graham Street would crowd into the old picture-house on Saturday afternoons for the kiddies' matinee performances - popularly nicknamed the Penny Crush.

They enjoyed carefree afternoons watching movies featuring Tarzan, The Lone Ranger and The Three Stooges. "Those were the days," she adds, "and thanks to that article I have just re-lived some of them."

Jean also had pleasant thoughts stirred by mention of the old 'whizzer' system at the old Co-op store (now vanished) at Fingerpost which sent customers' cash shooting along on an astonishing arrangement of overhead wires and canisters. "You also mentioned the parish church," she says, "I was married there 51 years ago. I am a widow now, but the memories of my younger days are still vivid in my mind. It's a pleasure to read your column and relive those bygone days."

Thanks for the compliment Jean. It's so nice to hear that this cobwebby page proves to be a memory-jerker in places as far away as the United States!

Another who picked up on the old-time cinema piece is Bill Flanagan who e-mails to say that his dad was projectionist at the Empire, Thatto Heath - another place of a million happy memories. "I presume it has also gone with the wind," adds Bill who can recall when the St Helens borough, as we now know it, could boast no fewer than 11 cinemas.

H WONDER how many can still name 'em. If so, please drop a line to Whalley's World. I'd also be delighted to receive any of your picture-palace memories.