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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.
Cinema Heritage Interactive Map
Explore this map of 21 local cinemas within a 3 mile radius of the Plaza, from 1930 to 1960.
The happy memories of the Odeon Cinema, Waterloo (now the Plaza)
When we were all younger, we used to go to the Odeon cinema for the the Saturday Morning Club. We would pay our 6(d) pence to go in, buy our sweets and walk into the main auditorium were a man played the organ.
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.
Comic published to coincide with “How the West was Won”
‘How The West as Won’ 1962 was the first film released in Cinerama that actually told a story.
Visits to various picture houses in the area with family and friends
My father did shift work, so every third week we would all go to the pictures either to the Regent, Plaza or the Corona…
‘Rock around the Clock’
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.
Additional entertainment at the Cinema matinees
Some cinemas would have additional entertainment aside from the films which would entertain and involve audience participation.
The cinema and morality
Moral issues have always been a concern when it has come to films and censorship
No supersized popcorn or giant fizzy drinks
Things sold within the cinema during the 1930′s to the 1960′s were limited in terms of the refreshments and snacks sold within modern cinemas.
