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.

The Regal was built as a purpose built cinema and opened 1939. With a white frontage, the sail shape building was a very popular venue especially with courting couples who remember the double 'Love Seats'

The Regal Cinema Church Road Litherland

The Regal was built as a purpose built cinema and opened 1939. With a white frontage, the sail shape building was a very popular venue especially with courting couples who remember the double ‘Love Seats’

Like cinema itself, the way women have been represented on the big screen has changed through the decades

Representation of women

Like cinema itself, the way women have been represented on the big screen has changed through the decades

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.

Photoplay film magazine not only had articles about new film releases it also had articles about  the film stars themselves and their private lives.

Photoplay Film Magazine

Photoplay film magazine not only had articles about new film releases it also had articles about the film stars themselves and their private lives.

Happy memories of the Odeon Saturday Morning Matinees

How many lollies was that worth?

Happy memories of the Odeon Saturday Morning Matinees

The original building of what was the Palladium Cinema in Seaforth still stands today and has been part of the community for 100 years, having several changes of use. It is currently used as a gymnasium.

The Palladium, Seaforth

The original building of what was the Palladium Cinema in Seaforth still stands today and has been part of the community for 100 years, having several changes of use. It is currently used as a gymnasium.

My first memory of the pictures is coming to the Plaza to see ‘Oliver’.

Seeing ‘Oliver’ at the Plaza

My first memory of the pictures is coming to the Plaza to see ‘Oliver’.

Twicer ice lollies and the National Anthem

Dot Sharp (now living in Canada!) contacted us to share her memories of cinema: “My brother and I would run as fast as we could on our 5 and 6yr old legs from Bark Road […]