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 Picturegoer film magazine is probably one of the oldest film magazines having first been published in 1913, it was a typical fan magazine not only telling readers about new films but also carried stories about the film stars and their private lives.

Picturegoer

The Picturegoer film magazine is probably one of the oldest film magazines having first been published in 1913, it was a typical fan magazine not only telling readers about new films but also carried stories about the film stars and their private lives.

Tom has an interesting cinema memory from before the smoking ban.

Real cigarettes in the Regal

Tom has an interesting cinema memory from before the smoking ban.

Cinema programs were freely available within cinemas and used to promote forth coming films and local buisinesses. Here we have an original copy of a program from the Bootle Odeon for June 1963

Programme for Bootle Odeon June 1963

Cinema programs were freely available within cinemas and used to promote forth coming films and local buisinesses. Here we have an original copy of a program from the Bootle Odeon for June 1963

Original Cinema program from the Bootle Gaumont 1962. Although by this time television had drew audiences away from the cinemas, film programs continued to show re released films

Cinema Programme for Bootle Gaumont 1962

Original Cinema program from the Bootle Gaumont 1962. Although by this time television had drew audiences away from the cinemas, film programs continued to show re released films

At the project launch event memories from cinema goers were collected in a number of ways. view some of the old style film bill posters created at the launch event

Cinema poster screen print workshop

At the project launch event memories from cinema goers were collected in a number of ways. view some of the old style film bill posters created at the launch event

The Sun Hall / Imperial Cinema – Stanley Road Bootle

The Sun Hall was one of the earliest venues in the borough to show moving images to patrons back in 1906 when it showed animated pictures with a man behind the scenes providing sound effects. […]

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

Volunteers through the project were treated to a tour of The North West Film Archive in Manchester where they learnt about how the archive plays a key part in preserving our local and regional film heritage.

Visit to the North West Film Archive

Volunteers through the project were treated to a tour of The North West Film Archive in Manchester where they learnt about how the archive plays a key part in preserving our local and regional film heritage.