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.

Flyer for the 'X' rated film 'A Guide for the Married Man'

Flyer for ‘A Guide for the Married Man’, 1967

Flyer for the ‘X’ rated film ‘A Guide for the Married Man’

Fashions from the films have always been emulated by people in society right from the days of early cinema up until today

Copying film star styles

Fashions from the films have always been emulated by people in society right from the days of early cinema up until today

The cinema during the war years played an important role in keeping up morale and finding out news and information. It also was a place to escape for a few hours and get lost in the land of film.

The role of cinema during the wars

The cinema during the war years played an important role in keeping up morale and finding out news and information. It also was a place to escape for a few hours and get lost in the land of film.

Some of the females stars through the decades who drew in the crowds at the cinema

Female stars of the screen through the decades

Some of the females stars through the decades who drew in the crowds at the cinema

Patriotic Cinema goers would stand for the National Anthem which was played at the end of the film screenings.

The National Anthem was played at the end of the film shows

Patriotic Cinema goers would stand for the National Anthem which was played at the end of the film screenings.

Read about the story and background to The Going to the Pictures Project

The Story of the project

Read about the story and background to The Going to the Pictures Project

Patricia remembers The Stella being "a bit posh" and the usherettes going round sprying discinfectant or flit spray during the films in the Palladium

Patricia’s memories of Seaforth Cinemas

Patricia remembers The Stella being “a bit posh” and the usherettes going round sprying discinfectant or flit spray during the films in the Palladium

Tommy remembers exchanging jam jars and doing odd jobs to earn money to go to the pictures.

Exchanging jam jars and running errands

Tommy remembers exchanging jam jars and doing odd jobs to earn money to go to the pictures.