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.
Jean’s cinema memories of dating at the Pictures and the influence of music and not being able to stay in your seat for wanting to dance.
If you got in for the ‘Penny Rush’ you had extra money for sweets – Toms early 1930′s matinee memories
There were often queues to get into the cinemas because they were so popular.
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.
My first memory of the pictures is coming to the Plaza to see ‘Oliver’.
Watch some more short clips from people sharing their memories of the Children’s Cinema Matinees of the 1930′s to 60′s