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 Plaza cinema was opened and closed on same day

“The Plaza opening was on 2nd September 1939 and closed by the 3rd September 1939, owing to the war. I had a ticket for the opening, I can’t remember what the film was. My favourite […]

Happy memories of The ABC Minors and dates at the pictures

“We are the ABC Minors happy girls and boys ….and we were”

Happy memories of The ABC Minors and dates at the pictures

The cinema during the war years played an important role in keeping up morale and finding out news and information. It also was a place to escape for a few hours and get lost in the land of film.

The role of cinema during the wars

The cinema during the war years played an important role in keeping up morale and finding out news and information. It also was a place to escape for a few hours and get lost in the land of film.

Tom has an interesting cinema memory from before the smoking ban.

Real cigarettes in the Regal

Tom has an interesting cinema memory from before the smoking ban.

This is a scanned copy of a flyer that was handed out in cinemas to advertising forthcoming films.

Flyer for ‘Nine Hours to Rama,’ 1962

This is a scanned copy of a flyer that was handed out in cinemas to advertising forthcoming films.

Children's Cinema shows and matinees hoped to develop young cinema goers into life long film and cinema fans

Children’s Cinema shows and Matinees

Children’s Cinema shows and matinees hoped to develop young cinema goers into life long film and cinema fans

Anne Remembers her dad taking her to see The Outlaw

The Racy Jane Russell

Anne Remembers her dad taking her to see The Outlaw

Watch some more short clips from people sharing their memories of the Children's Cinema Matinees of the 1930's to 60's

More memories of the Children’s Cinema Matinees

Watch some more short clips from people sharing their memories of the Children’s Cinema Matinees of the 1930′s to 60′s