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.

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

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 Picture Palace of Bootle held film show matinees for children on Saturdays at 1pm and 3pm with prices of 1d and 2 d.

The Picture Palace of Bootle Knowsley Road Bootle

The Picture Palace of Bootle held film show matinees for children on Saturdays at 1pm and 3pm with prices of 1d and 2 d.

Opening in the roaring 20's The Coliseum was a large 1400 seat cinema which had balcony and cafe lounge upstairs for cinema goers to socialise and wait for the silent film screenings to begin

The Coliseum / Essoldo Cinema Linacre Road Litherland

Opening in the roaring 20′s The Coliseum was a large 1400 seat cinema which had balcony and cafe lounge upstairs for cinema goers to socialise and wait for the silent film screenings to begin

Some young cinema goers were given the responsibility of being a monitor - providing help and assistance to the cinema staff

Children’s Cinema Club Monitors

Some young cinema goers were given the responsibility of being a monitor – providing help and assistance to the cinema staff

Roles for women in front and behind the camera

Careers for women in the film industry

Roles for women in front and behind the camera

A couple’s first date at the opening of the Plaza Cinema in 1939.

Memories of the opening Gala Night at the Plaza Cinema in 1939

A couple’s first date at the opening of the Plaza Cinema in 1939.

As part of the project volunteers were given the opportunity to attend a Website Workshop in which they learnt skills on how to upload text and visual content to this website.

The Going to the Pictures Project Website

As part of the project volunteers were given the opportunity to attend a Website Workshop in which they learnt skills on how to upload text and visual content to this website.