Going To The Pictures

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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.

Films came to the cinema on large reels which would be projected onto the screen, the reels would sometimes break and get mixed up

Reels would sometimes break down or get mixed up

Films came to the cinema on large reels which would be projected onto the screen, the reels would sometimes break and get mixed up

Original Cinema program from the Bootle Gaumont 1962. Although by this time television had drew audiences away from the cinemas, film programs continued to show re released films

Cinema Programme for Bootle Gaumont 1962

Original Cinema program from the Bootle Gaumont 1962. Although by this time television had drew audiences away from the cinemas, film programs continued to show re released films

The cinema for women from the 1930's onwards has provided an escape from real life and a place in which they could find out about new fashions and trends

Women and the Cinema

The cinema for women from the 1930′s onwards has provided an escape from real life and a place in which they could find out about new fashions and trends

Films and Filming

Films and Filming was first published in 1951, and where other film magazines of the time publicized films and their stars with little critical appraisal, Films and Filming was very much a serious magazine about […]

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

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

Opening in the roaring 20's The Coliseum was a large 1400 seat cinema which had balcony and cafe lounge upstairs for cinema goers to socialise and wait for the silent film screenings to begin

The Coliseum / Essoldo Cinema Linacre Road Litherland

Opening in the roaring 20′s The Coliseum was a large 1400 seat cinema which had balcony and cafe lounge upstairs for cinema goers to socialise and wait for the silent film screenings to begin

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.

Film cards, magazines and photographs of the stars became valuable prized possessions which were collected and exchanged by the cinema goers and would be a talking point in society.

Collecting and copying the film stars

Film cards, magazines and photographs of the stars became valuable prized possessions which were collected and exchanged by the cinema goers and would be a talking point in society.

National Lottery Heritage Fund Plaza Cinema