Norman , Army Kinema Corporation

Army Kinema Corporation
Norman Walter Cullis-Cussens, worked for the Army
Kinema Corporation,in France,Germany,and Holland,including the famous Tuschinski cinema in Amersterdam, during world war2. Managing cinema's and running shows for the forces. A position he enjoyed very much. Before the war he started as a trainee projectionist at The Globe, Clapham Junction.
When called up to the armed forces, he worked in ammunitions depots, before transferring to E.N.S.A (Army Kinema Corporation.)He was one of the first, on the entertainment side, to cross over to France, during the D-Day operations, in a landing craft, with a number of live show artists. Once he was driving a van and lost control, breaking the cab door off, which was soon put right but got him the name of the wrecker. When they were out based at small locations they often went months with out their pay and would lodge with locals. Norman always liked his food and once stayed at a bakers. After the war he stayed on as civilian. Returning to England,
he worked for the Odeon Theatre in Balham,and Camberwell, and other locations.
He married Joyce and had a son Trevor. Changing to Managing Newsagent shops in Southern England with Joyce. He returned to the cinema industry, for a short while in the early 1970's, managing the Rex Cinema Haslemere,including hosting the childrens, Saturday morning show, as uncle Norman. One of his great passions was the Theatre Organ, Especially the Wurlitzer,and he was a member of the Theatre Organ Club.He retired to Saltdean, and sadly passed away, in April this year, at the age of 83.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.