Going To The Pictures

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.

Like cinema itself, the way women have been represented on the big screen has changed through the decades

Representation of women

Like cinema itself, the way women have been represented on the big screen has changed through the decades

Local film maker Tim Brunsden has followed the Going to the Pictures project development and has created a documentary which tells the story of the project.

The Documentary Film – The Story of the Project

Local film maker Tim Brunsden has followed the Going to the Pictures project development and has created a documentary which tells the story of the project.

When we were all younger, we used to go to the Odeon cinema for the the Saturday Morning Club.  We would pay our 6(d) pence to go in, buy our sweets and walk into the main auditorium were a man played the organ.

The happy memories of the Odeon Cinema, Waterloo (now the Plaza)

When we were all younger, we used to go to the Odeon cinema for the the Saturday Morning Club. We would pay our 6(d) pence to go in, buy our sweets and walk into the main auditorium were a man played the organ.

The cinema during the war years played an important role in keeping up morale and finding out news and information. It also was a place to escape for a few hours and get lost in the land of film.

The role of cinema during the wars

The cinema during the war years played an important role in keeping up morale and finding out news and information. It also was a place to escape for a few hours and get lost in the land of film.

Flyer for the 'X' rated film 'A Guide for the Married Man'

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

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

Cinema Heritage Trail Map to print

As part of the project we have produced a specially designed Cinema Heritage Trail Map. 5000 have been printed and distributed locally  - keep a look out at your local community centre, or pick one […]

The Bijou - a small cinema in Waterloo

The Bijou – East Street Waterloo

The Bijou – a small cinema in Waterloo

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

Real cigarettes in the Regal

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