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.

Flyer for the Boolte Gaumont Cinema which has been kept for over 50 years and scanned especially for the Going to the Pictures Project. The flyer from 1961 is advertising a future presentation of the film 'Cape Fear'

Flyer for the film ‘Cape Fear,’ Bootle Gaumont

Flyer for the Boolte Gaumont Cinema which has been kept for over 50 years and scanned especially for the Going to the Pictures Project. The flyer from 1961 is advertising a future presentation of the film ‘Cape Fear’

Watch some more short clips from people sharing their memories of the Children's Cinema Matinees of the 1930's to 60's

More memories of the Children’s Cinema Matinees

Watch some more short clips from people sharing their memories of the Children’s Cinema Matinees of the 1930′s to 60′s

Gender roles portrayed in the cinema where sometimes untrue to life but helped to reinforce stereotypes

Gender roles portrayed in cinema

Gender roles portrayed in the cinema where sometimes untrue to life but helped to reinforce stereotypes

The Going to the Pictures Launch Event gave guests an opportunity to reminisce and take a nostalgic look back at Going to the Pictures.

Going to the Pictures Project Launch Event

The Going to the Pictures Launch Event gave guests an opportunity to reminisce and take a nostalgic look back at Going to the Pictures.

Through the project we have invited people into the Plaza Community Cinema to share their cinema memories on camera

Filming Cinema Memories

Through the project we have invited people into the Plaza Community Cinema to share their cinema memories on camera

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

The Queens Picture House South Road Waterloo

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

The Winter Gardens cinema was a popular place for showing 'X' certificate films and memories have been shared

The New Picture Hall – The Waterloo Playhouse – The Winter Garden’s – Church Road Waterloo

The Winter Gardens cinema was a popular place for showing ‘X’ certificate films and memories have been shared

Twicer ice lollies and the National Anthem

Dot Sharp (now living in Canada!) contacted us to share her memories of cinema: “My brother and I would run as fast as we could on our 5 and 6yr old legs from Bark Road […]