Going To The Pictures

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.

Cinema Heritage Interactive Map

Explore this map of 21 local cinemas within a 3 mile radius of the Plaza, from 1930 to 1960.

The Gainsborough Knowsley Road Bootle

The Gainsborough, opened in 1922 and was named after the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. It was built almost directly opposite The Picture House of Bootle and helped bring about its closure.

The interior decoration of the old Palladium cinema

This image shows the interior of the old Palladium Cinema in Seaforth. The ornate decorative features have lasted for almost a century within this building which has had many uses including the cinema, a warehouse […]

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

Holiday to Seaforth and the Scarlet Pimpernel

Eric’s childhood holiday to Seaforth and memories of the Stella

The Electric Picture Palace

The Electric Picture Palace – this image is a coloured postcard showing the old picture house and how Bridge road looked c.1911

The Sun Hall / Imperial Cinema – Stanley Road Bootle

The Sun Hall was one of the earliest venues in the borough to show moving images to patrons back in 1906 when it showed animated pictures with a man behind the scenes providing sound effects. […]