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.

I sent the 3 children to the pictures and my youngest son actually committed the cardinal sin of The Gaumont

Screen struggle at the Gaumont Cinema

I sent the 3 children to the pictures and my youngest son actually committed the cardinal sin of The Gaumont

In some cinemas admission could be obtained by exchanging jam jars if you had no money. This practice was especially true at the children's cinema matinees where some children would take them to the cinema with jam still in.

Exchanging jam jars for Cinema entrance

In some cinemas admission could be obtained by exchanging jam jars if you had no money. This practice was especially true at the children’s cinema matinees where some children would take them to the cinema with jam still in.

The Regent Cinema was the first suburban cinema in the area to have a cafe lounge installed when it was built in 1920, over the years the building has had  several uses including a bingo and social club. It is now part of St Mary's School Gymnasium.

The Regent Cinema – Liverpool Road, Crosby

The Regent Cinema was the first suburban cinema in the area to have a cafe lounge installed when it was built in 1920, over the years the building has had several uses including a bingo and social club. It is now part of St Mary’s School Gymnasium.

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

The Queens Picture House - The first purpose built cinema in Waterloo

The Queens Picture House South Road Waterloo

The Queens Picture House – The first purpose built cinema in Waterloo

The ABC Film Review magazine was available in all ABC Cinemas from 1950 onwards. This magazine told cinema goers of forth coming film attractions

The ABC Film Review

The ABC Film Review magazine was available in all ABC Cinemas from 1950 onwards. This magazine told cinema goers of forth coming film attractions

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.

To research and collect memories of Going to the Pictures we have worked with several community groups, organisations and individuals and would like to thank them all.

Community involvement in the project

To research and collect memories of Going to the Pictures we have worked with several community groups, organisations and individuals and would like to thank them all.