Going To The Pictures

Cinema and Society

"I remember the club song which went like this: “To the Ode – Odeon we have come..."

Odeon Saturday Club song

“I remember the club song which went like this: “To the Ode – Odeon we have come…”

My first memory of the pictures is coming to the Plaza to see ‘Oliver’.

Seeing ‘Oliver’ at the Plaza

My first memory of the pictures is coming to the Plaza to see ‘Oliver’.

Cinema was very much a part of Derek’s life, becoming a manager and meeting his wife at the cinema.  One memory was when Fulham Football team visited one of the cinemas he managed, before playing Liverpool the next day.

Derek the cinema manager

Cinema was very much a part of Derek’s life, becoming a manager and meeting his wife at the cinema. One memory was when Fulham Football team visited one of the cinemas he managed, before playing Liverpool the next day.

I remember watching ‘The Night of the Living Dead’ with my wife, who hid throughout the whole film.

Watching the horror film ‘The Night of the Living Dead, with my wife.

I remember watching ‘The Night of the Living Dead’ with my wife, who hid throughout the whole film.

The Liverpool Echo would list over a 100 cinemas each night.  I would travel all over Merseyside to watch certain films.

Advertising of cinemas in the Liverpool Echo

The Liverpool Echo would list over a 100 cinemas each night. I would travel all over Merseyside to watch certain films.

Pay day pocket money in hand and off to the pictures, and to the ‘chippy’ for 3 penneth of chips - what joy, blown the rest of that week’s pocket money.  My friends and I loved the cinema, oh what Happy Days.

Spending pocket money on our favourite films

Pay day pocket money in hand and off to the pictures, and to the ‘chippy’ for 3 penneth of chips – what joy, blown the rest of that week’s pocket money. My friends and I loved the cinema, oh what Happy Days.

A couple’s first date at the opening of the Plaza Cinema in 1939.

Memories of the opening Gala Night at the Plaza Cinema in 1939

A couple’s first date at the opening of the Plaza Cinema in 1939.

Patricia remembers The Stella being "a bit posh" and the usherettes going round sprying discinfectant or flit spray during the films in the Palladium

Patricia’s memories of Seaforth Cinemas

Patricia remembers The Stella being “a bit posh” and the usherettes going round sprying discinfectant or flit spray during the films in the Palladium

The lives and views of the stars were big news and the film stars would become as much as a draw to the cinema as the films themselves

Escapism at the cinema and the glamourous film stars

The lives and views of the stars were big news and the film stars would become as much as a draw to the cinema as the films themselves

Film cards, magazines and photographs of the stars became valuable prized possessions which were collected and exchanged by the cinema goers and would be a talking point in society.

Collecting and copying the film stars

Film cards, magazines and photographs of the stars became valuable prized possessions which were collected and exchanged by the cinema goers and would be a talking point in society.

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