Going To The Pictures

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.

Cinema Heritage Interactive Map

Explore this map of 21 local cinemas within a 3 mile radius of the Plaza, from 1930 to 1960.

A black and white adventure

The cinema as a centre for our adventure

Spending pocket money on our favourite films

Pay day pocket money in hand and off to the pictures, and to the ‘chippy’ for 3 penneth of chips – what joy, blown the rest of that week’s pocket money. My friends and I loved the cinema, oh what Happy Days.

Screen struggle at the Gaumont Cinema

I sent the 3 children to the pictures and my youngest son actually committed the cardinal sin of The Gaumont

Photoplay Film Magazine

Photoplay film magazine not only had articles about new film releases it also had articles about the film stars themselves and their private lives.

Watching the horror film ‘The Night of the Living Dead, with my wife.

I remember watching ‘The Night of the Living Dead’ with my wife, who hid throughout the whole film.

The Winter Gardens Theatre / Apollo Theatre – Pembroke Road Bootle

Another early cinema was on Pembroke Road in Bootle it was called The Winter Gardens Theatre and also Apollo Theatre. The building which stood was built in the 1890’s and was originally known as Beaconsfield […]