Going To The Pictures

MAIN MENU

EXPLORE BY THEME

EXPLORE BY TYPE

EXPLORE BY CINEMA

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.

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.

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

Cinema Heritage Interactive Map

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

Some of the females stars through the decades who drew in the crowds at the cinema

Female stars of the screen through the decades

Some of the females stars through the decades who drew in the crowds at the cinema

The beautiful building was demolished and now shops stand in its place

Corona Cinema – College Road Crosby

The beautiful building was demolished and now shops stand in its place

Children's Cinema shows and matinees hoped to develop young cinema goers into life long film and cinema fans

Children’s Cinema shows and Matinees

Children’s Cinema shows and matinees hoped to develop young cinema goers into life long film and cinema fans

In 1933/34 I went to “The Pictures” for the first time, but I was not impressed. The black and white film was very old and scratched; it looked like driving rain to me. A few years later I went again and paid a penny to get in with a penny for ice cream in the interval.

My first visit to the Winter Gardens, Waterloo.

In 1933/34 I went to “The Pictures” for the first time, but I was not impressed. The black and white film was very old and scratched; it looked like driving rain to me. A few years later I went again and paid a penny to get in with a penny for ice cream in the interval.

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

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

The Gainsborough, opened in 1922 and was named after the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. It was built almost directly opposite The Picture House of Bootle and helped bring about its closure.

The Gainsborough Knowsley Road Bootle

The Gainsborough, opened in 1922 and was named after the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. It was built almost directly opposite The Picture House of Bootle and helped bring about its closure.

Built as a theatre in 1890 then moved on to show popular moving images, known locally as 'The Ranch' the building held many interesting memories until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950's

The Muncaster, New Princes Theatre, Strand Cinema Irlam Road Bootle – a.k.a. The Ranch

Built as a theatre in 1890 then moved on to show popular moving images, known locally as ‘The Ranch’ the building held many interesting memories until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950′s

The project has been very fortunate in having several people who have come forward with items or collections of cinema memorabilia. Volunteers through the project have helped to scan and digitize materials.

Memorabilia

The project has been very fortunate in having several people who have come forward with items or collections of cinema memorabilia. Volunteers through the project have helped to scan and digitize materials.

National Lottery Heritage Fund Plaza Cinema