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.
A fantastic book about the Picture Houses of Liverpool has been a great source of information for the project and has in some cases worked as an aid memoir in collecting and helping jog memories. […]
The project has been very fortunate in having several people who have come forward with items or collections of cinema memorabilia. Volunteers through the project have helped to scan and digitize materials.
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
Some students from Crosby High School have helped to create the Cinema Heritage Trail Map depicting the sites of the 21 Cinemas
In the early days of cinema films for children would often be of American origin and sometimes just be adult films which had been edited until British films especially made for the child audience came along following concerns about the effects of film on the young audience.
The impact that cinema has had on society had been quite remarkable. Film is an art form that entertains, informs and provides a view of the world. Before the days of instant news and film on demand the cinema was a place for entertainment, news and information.
The role that cinema has played in modern society cannot be underestimated. Films have helped to form fashions, fads and opinions, offered views and educated and entertained the masses, whilst providing a place to escape the reality of life.
Happy memories of The ABC Minors and dates at the pictures