Going To The Pictures

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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 Gainsborough, opened in 1922 and was named after the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. It was built almost directly opposite The Picture House of Bootle and helped bring about its closure.

The Gainsborough Knowsley Road Bootle

The Gainsborough, opened in 1922 and was named after the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. It was built almost directly opposite The Picture House of Bootle and helped bring about its closure.

Program for the Odeon Bootle 1963, as well as showing what films were on some interesting adverts can be found within the pages of the cinema memorabilia which tell a part of our social history.

Programme for Odeon Bootle 1963 – X rated!

Program for the Odeon Bootle 1963, as well as showing what films were on some interesting adverts can be found within the pages of the cinema memorabilia which tell a part of our social history.

The cinema has provided a popular venue for dating and through the 30’s to the 60’s was the first choice for many first dates and courting couples who would often head for the back row.

Hugging and kissing in the back row of the movies

The cinema has provided a popular venue for dating and through the 30’s to the 60’s was the first choice for many first dates and courting couples who would often head for the back row.

In some cinemas admission could be obtained by exchanging jam jars if you had no money. This practice was especially true at the children's cinema matinees where some children would take them to the cinema with jam still in.

Exchanging jam jars for Cinema entrance

In some cinemas admission could be obtained by exchanging jam jars if you had no money. This practice was especially true at the children’s cinema matinees where some children would take them to the cinema with jam still in.

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

The Regal was built as a purpose built cinema and opened 1939. With a white frontage, the sail shape building was a very popular venue especially with courting couples who remember the double 'Love Seats'

The Regal Cinema Church Road Litherland

The Regal was built as a purpose built cinema and opened 1939. With a white frontage, the sail shape building was a very popular venue especially with courting couples who remember the double ‘Love Seats’

Harold Ackroyd

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. […]

My father did shift work, so every third week we would all go to the pictures either to the Regent, Plaza or the Corona...

Visits to various picture houses in the area with family and friends

My father did shift work, so every third week we would all go to the pictures either to the Regent, Plaza or the Corona…

National Lottery Heritage Fund Plaza Cinema