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.

The lives and views of the stars were big news and the film stars would become as much as a draw to the cinema as the films themselves

Escapism at the cinema and the glamourous film stars

The lives and views of the stars were big news and the film stars would become as much as a draw to the cinema as the films themselves

Flyer for the Boolte Gaumont Cinema which has been kept for over 50 years and scanned especially for the Going to the Pictures Project. The flyer from 1961 is advertising a future presentation of the film 'Cape Fear'

Flyer for the film ‘Cape Fear,’ Bootle Gaumont

Flyer for the Boolte Gaumont Cinema which has been kept for over 50 years and scanned especially for the Going to the Pictures Project. The flyer from 1961 is advertising a future presentation of the film ‘Cape Fear’

Crosby High Students at Sefton Records Office viewing old maps and photographs to see how the area and community has changed over the years and where the Picture Houses in the area once stood.

Crosby High Visit to Sefton Records Office

Crosby High Students at Sefton Records Office viewing old maps and photographs to see how the area and community has changed over the years and where the Picture Houses in the area once stood.

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.

The influence of cinema on society and the role of newsreels

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.

Dracula

“The Essoldo (ice box) on Linacre road (opposite the corpy bus shed) When the Hammer (Dracula) pictures was on us Marsh Lane bucks never missed one of them . There was 4 or 5 of […]

The Liverpool Echo would list over a 100 cinemas each night.  I would travel all over Merseyside to watch certain films.

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.

The role of women portrayed on the screen often fell within the stereotypical roles amplified and made up by Hollywood

Female roles

The role of women portrayed on the screen often fell within the stereotypical roles amplified and made up by Hollywood

Like cinema itself, the way women have been represented on the big screen has changed through the decades

Representation of women

Like cinema itself, the way women have been represented on the big screen has changed through the decades