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.

The Broadway Cinema - Stanley Road Bootle

The Picture House / Broadway / Gaumont / Odeon – Stanley Road, Bootle.

The Broadway Cinema – Stanley Road Bootle

The Bootle Picture Palace Marsh lane was built in 1912 and was the first building locally to be erected as a cinema.

The Palace – Marsh Lane, Bootle

The Bootle Picture Palace Marsh lane was built in 1912 and was the first building locally to be erected as a cinema.

The Bijou - a small cinema in Waterloo

The Bijou – East Street Waterloo

The Bijou – a small cinema in Waterloo

We come along on a Saturday morning, greeting everybody with a smile....
Children’s Matinees
Saturday morning, hundreds of unsupervised rowdy children.  What could it be?

“We come along on a Saturday morning, greeting everybody with a smile…”

We come along on a Saturday morning, greeting everybody with a smile….
Children’s Matinees
Saturday morning, hundreds of unsupervised rowdy children. What could it be?

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

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.

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.

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.

Program for the Odeon Bootle 1963, as well as showing what films were on some interesting adverts can be found within the pages of the cinema memorabilia which tell a part of our social history.

Programme for Odeon Bootle 1963 – X rated!

Program for the Odeon Bootle 1963, as well as showing what films were on some interesting adverts can be found within the pages of the cinema memorabilia which tell a part of our social history.