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 memories of Going to the Pictures we have recorded for the project will be stored within the North West Sound Archive so that part of our local cinema heritage is preserved for future generations

Visit to the North West Sound Archive

The memories of Going to the Pictures we have recorded for the project will be stored within the North West Sound Archive so that part of our local cinema heritage is preserved for future generations

This is a scanned copy of a flyer that was handed out in cinemas to advertising forthcoming films.

Flyer for ‘Nine Hours to Rama,’ 1962

This is a scanned copy of a flyer that was handed out in cinemas to advertising forthcoming films.

My father did shift work, so every third week we would all go to the pictures either to the Regent, Plaza or the Corona...

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…

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.

Read about the story and background to The Going to the Pictures Project

The Story of the project

Read about the story and background to The Going to the Pictures Project

If you got in for the 'Penny Rush' you had extra money for sweets - Toms early 1930's matinee memories

Penny rush and Roy Rogers

If you got in for the ‘Penny Rush’ you had extra money for sweets – Toms early 1930′s matinee memories

The cinema memories we have recorded through the project have helped to create a short film which gives a glimpse into what Going to the Pictures was like from the 30's to the 60's.

The Going to the Pictures Project Film

The cinema memories we have recorded through the project have helped to create a short film which gives a glimpse into what Going to the Pictures was like from the 30′s to the 60′s.

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.

Exchanging jam jars for Cinema entrance

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.