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 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.

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.

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

Cinema program from Boole Gaumont February 1962. Films showing at the cinema at that time included two 'abridged versions' this means that the films had been edited into shorter versions often in order to fit around the main feature

Cinema Programme Bootle Gaumont February 1962

Cinema program from Boole Gaumont February 1962. Films showing at the cinema at that time included two ‘abridged versions’ this means that the films had been edited into shorter versions often in order to fit around the main feature

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.

The Sun Hall / Imperial Cinema – Stanley Road Bootle

The Sun Hall was one of the earliest venues in the borough to show moving images to patrons back in 1906 when it showed animated pictures with a man behind the scenes providing sound effects. […]

Some students from Crosby High School have helped to create the Cinema Heritage Trail Map depicting the sites of the 21 Cinemas

Crosby High School – The Cinema Heritage Trail

Some students from Crosby High School have helped to create the Cinema Heritage Trail Map depicting the sites of the 21 Cinemas

There were often queues to get into the cinemas because they were so popular.

Queues to get into the cinemas

There were often queues to get into the cinemas because they were so popular.