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.

Through the project we have invited people into the Plaza Community Cinema to share their cinema memories on camera

Filming Cinema Memories

Through the project we have invited people into the Plaza Community Cinema to share their cinema memories on camera

The innovation of sound technology in the late 1920's caused a sensation in the world of film and many cinemas had to adapt and alter to embrace the new technology.

Silent films – then sound comes to the cinema

The innovation of sound technology in the late 1920′s caused a sensation in the world of film and many cinemas had to adapt and alter to embrace the new technology.

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?

“We come along on a Saturday morning, greeting everybody with a smile…”

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?

Picture Show and Film Pictorial

The film magazine Picture Show was first published in 1919, and gave readers an insight into films that were showing at their local cinemas but more importantly it gave readers the opportunity to learn more […]

The Broadway Cinema - Stanley Road Bootle

The Picture House / Broadway / Gaumont / Odeon – Stanley Road, Bootle.

The Broadway Cinema – Stanley Road Bootle

paying in with jam jars at the Ranch...

Mike’s memories of the popularity of Going to the Pictures

paying in with jam jars at the Ranch…

The Winter Gardens cinema was a popular place for showing 'X' certificate films and memories have been shared

The New Picture Hall – The Waterloo Playhouse – The Winter Garden’s – Church Road Waterloo

The Winter Gardens cinema was a popular place for showing ‘X’ certificate films and memories have been shared

Through the memories of cinema going we have recorded for the project, many people have commented on the growing influence America had upon British society through the cinema

The Hollywood Influence on British Cinema Goers

Through the memories of cinema going we have recorded for the project, many people have commented on the growing influence America had upon British society through the cinema