Going To The Pictures

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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.

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 has provided a popular venue for dating and through the 30’s to the 60’s was the first choice for many first dates and courting couples who would often head for the back row.

Hugging and kissing in the back row of the movies

The cinema has provided a popular venue for dating and through the 30’s to the 60’s was the first choice for many first dates and courting couples who would often head for the back row.

The Broadway Cinema - Stanley Road Bootle

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

The Broadway Cinema – Stanley Road Bootle

Cinema program from Boole Gaumont February 1962. Films showing at the cinema at that time included two 'abridged versions' this means that the films had been edited into shorter versions often in order to fit around the main feature

Cinema Programme Bootle Gaumont February 1962

Cinema program from Boole Gaumont February 1962. Films showing at the cinema at that time included two ‘abridged versions’ this means that the films had been edited into shorter versions often in order to fit around the main feature

Local film maker Tim Brunsden has followed the Going to the Pictures project development and has created a documentary which tells the story of the project.

The Documentary Film – The Story of the Project

Local film maker Tim Brunsden has followed the Going to the Pictures project development and has created a documentary which tells the story of the project.

The Plaza cinema was opened and closed on same day

“The Plaza opening was on 2nd September 1939 and closed by the 3rd September 1939, owing to the war. I had a ticket for the opening, I can’t remember what the film was. My favourite […]

The Gainsborough, opened in 1922 and was named after the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. It was built almost directly opposite The Picture House of Bootle and helped bring about its closure.

The Gainsborough Knowsley Road Bootle

The Gainsborough, opened in 1922 and was named after the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. It was built almost directly opposite The Picture House of Bootle and helped bring about its closure.

Cinema was very much a part of Derek’s life, becoming a manager and meeting his wife at the cinema. One memory was when Fulham Football team visited one of the cinemas he managed, before playing Liverpool the next day.

Derek the cinema manager

Cinema was very much a part of Derek’s life, becoming a manager and meeting his wife at the cinema. One memory was when Fulham Football team visited one of the cinemas he managed, before playing Liverpool the next day.

National Lottery Heritage Fund Plaza Cinema