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.
After the Second World War, the church and educationalists raised concerns regarding what was being shown within the children’s cinema matinees, and in the cinemas in general, highlighting Hollywood’s glamorization of immoral behavior and crime.
The Cinema’s of the 1930′s to the 1960′s were often seen as being a quite luxurious venue for the public to go. They were an important part of the community for socialising and magnificent places of entertainment
I sent the 3 children to the pictures and my youngest son actually committed the cardinal sin of The Gaumont
The Electric Picture Palace – this image is a coloured postcard showing the old picture house and how Bridge road looked c.1911
Volunteers through the project were treated to a tour of The North West Film Archive in Manchester where they learnt about how the archive plays a key part in preserving our local and regional film heritage.
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.
From 1930 through to 1960’s the main influence in films came from America and showed many glamorous beautiful film stars gracing the screen, not only through the films but also through the news reels
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.