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.
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.
Very few original pieces of cinema memorabilia have survived over the years, but through the project we have been able to unearth and scan some great pieces which may have other wise been discared. Here we have a Cinmea Flyer from 1962
Gender roles portrayed in the cinema where sometimes untrue to life but helped to reinforce stereotypes
The fantastic five storey building was built in 1911 as a theatre and described as “artistic throughout”
Some young cinema goers were given the responsibility of being a monitor – providing help and assistance to the cinema staff
Through the project we have invited people into the Plaza Community Cinema to share their cinema memories on camera
The ABC Film Review magazine was available in all ABC Cinemas from 1950 onwards. This magazine told cinema goers of forth coming film attractions