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.

Female roles

The role of women portrayed on the screen often fell within the stereotypical roles amplified and made up by Hollywood

The Queens Picture House South Road Waterloo

The Queens Picture House – The first purpose built cinema in Waterloo

Real cigarettes in the Regal

Tom has an interesting cinema memory from before the smoking ban.

Cinema poster screen print workshop

At the project launch event memories from cinema goers were collected in a number of ways. view some of the old style film bill posters created at the launch event

Hugging and kissing in the back row of the movies

The cinema has provided a popular venue for dating and through the 30’s to the 60’s was the first choice for many first dates and courting couples who would often head for the back row.

The Plaza cinema was opened and closed on same day

“The Plaza opening was on 2nd September 1939 and closed by the 3rd September 1939, owing to the war. I had a ticket for the opening, I can’t remember what the film was. My favourite […]