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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.
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.
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.
The Metropole Stanley Road Bootle
The fantastic five storey building was built in 1911 as a theatre and described as “artistic throughout”
Gender roles portrayed in cinema
Gender roles portrayed in the cinema where sometimes untrue to life but helped to reinforce stereotypes
Advertising of cinemas in the Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo would list over a 100 cinemas each night. I would travel all over Merseyside to watch certain films.
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.
Confessions of bunking in at the Pictures
Common themes remembered by cinema goers of the 30’s to the 60’s is that of ‘bunking in’ or not paying to get into the cinema. Also young cinema goers from the period of the 30′s to the 60′s would often ask strangers if they could go into the cinema with them so they could watch films that maybe they shouldn’t due to censorship and film classifications.
