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.

Built as a theatre in 1890 then moved on to show popular moving images, known locally as 'The Ranch' the building held many interesting memories until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950's

The Muncaster, New Princes Theatre, Strand Cinema Irlam Road Bootle – a.k.a. The Ranch

Built as a theatre in 1890 then moved on to show popular moving images, known locally as ‘The Ranch’ the building held many interesting memories until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950′s

Cinema Heritage Trail Map to print

As part of the project we have produced a specially designed Cinema Heritage Trail Map. 5000 have been printed and distributed locally  - keep a look out at your local community centre, or pick one […]

Dracula

“The Essoldo (ice box) on Linacre road (opposite the corpy bus shed) When the Hammer (Dracula) pictures was on us Marsh Lane bucks never missed one of them . There was 4 or 5 of […]

The project has been very fortunate in having several people who have come forward with items or collections of cinema memorabilia. Volunteers through the project have helped to scan and digitize materials.

Memorabilia

The project has been very fortunate in having several people who have come forward with items or collections of cinema memorabilia. Volunteers through the project have helped to scan and digitize materials.

Flyers distributed in cinemas were a popular way to advertise forthcoming features.

Flyer for ‘The Inspector,’ 1962

Flyers distributed in cinemas were a popular way to advertise forthcoming features.

Fashions from the films have always been emulated by people in society right from the days of early cinema up until today

Copying film star styles

Fashions from the films have always been emulated by people in society right from the days of early cinema up until today

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.

Morality at the Cinema

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.

Photographs of architectural plans for some of  the local Picture Houses

Architectural Cinema Plans

Photographs of architectural plans for some of the local Picture Houses