Going To The Pictures

Memories are made of this… Project overview

The aim of the Going to the Pictures Project has been to help preserve a part of our local cinema heritage by collecting and recording memories from people who used and worked in the local picture houses from the 1930′s to the 1960′s.

Cinema Heritage Interactive Map

Explore this map of 21 local cinemas within a 3 mile radius of the Plaza, from 1930 to 1960.

Dating at the cinema, being thrown out, and the influence of music

Jean’s cinema memories of dating at the Pictures and the influence of music and not being able to stay in your seat for wanting to dance.

Flyer for ‘A Guide for the Married Man’, 1967

Flyer for the ‘X’ rated film ‘A Guide for the Married Man’

Dracula

“The Essoldo (ice box) on Linacre road (opposite the corpy bus shed) When the Hammer (Dracula) pictures was on us Marsh Lane bucks never missed one of them . There was 4 or 5 of […]

Visit to the North West Film Archive

Volunteers through the project were treated to a tour of The North West Film Archive in Manchester where they learnt about how the archive plays a key part in preserving our local and regional film heritage.

Playing games relating to films and film stars

The films watched at the childrens cinema matinees would absorb and excite many children watching from the 1930′s to 60′s and would influence the games that the children played

Silent films – then sound comes to the cinema

The innovation of sound technology in the late 1920′s caused a sensation in the world of film and many cinemas had to adapt and alter to embrace the new technology.