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.
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 Queens Picture House – The first purpose built cinema in Waterloo
Patricia remembers The Stella being “a bit posh” and the usherettes going round sprying discinfectant or flit spray during the films in the Palladium
When the film ‘Rock Around the Clock’ was released in cinemas the music had people dancing in the aisles and many people were asked to leave the cinema.
Film cards, magazines and photographs of the stars became valuable prized possessions which were collected and exchanged by the cinema goers and would be a talking point in society.
We come along on a Saturday morning, greeting everybody with a smile….
Children’s Matinees
Saturday morning, hundreds of unsupervised rowdy children. What could it be?