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.

Volunteers through the project were treated to a tour of The North West Film Archive in Manchester where they learnt about how the archive plays a key part in preserving our local and regional film heritage.

Visit to the North West Film Archive

Volunteers through the project were treated to a tour of The North West Film Archive in Manchester where they learnt about how the archive plays a key part in preserving our local and regional film heritage.

Built as a theatre in 1890 then moved on to show popular moving images, known locally as 'The Ranch' the building held many interesting memories until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950's

The Muncaster, New Princes Theatre, Strand Cinema Irlam Road Bootle – a.k.a. The Ranch

Built as a theatre in 1890 then moved on to show popular moving images, known locally as ‘The Ranch’ the building held many interesting memories until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950′s

Cinema program from Boole Gaumont February 1962. Films showing at the cinema at that time included two 'abridged versions' this means that the films had been edited into shorter versions often in order to fit around the main feature

Cinema Programme Bootle Gaumont February 1962

Cinema program from Boole Gaumont February 1962. Films showing at the cinema at that time included two ‘abridged versions’ this means that the films had been edited into shorter versions often in order to fit around the main feature

Twicer ice lollies and the National Anthem

Dot Sharp (now living in Canada!) contacted us to share her memories of cinema: “My brother and I would run as fast as we could on our 5 and 6yr old legs from Bark Road […]

At one time many cinemas were not allowed to open on a Sunday and those which did had several restrictions placed upon them.

Sunday Cinema opening

At one time many cinemas were not allowed to open on a Sunday and those which did had several restrictions placed upon them.

The fantastic five storey building was built in 1911 as a theatre and described as “artistic throughout”

The Metropole Stanley Road Bootle

The fantastic five storey building was built in 1911 as a theatre and described as “artistic throughout”

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’

Cinema programs were freely available within cinemas and used to promote forth coming films and local buisinesses. Here we have an original copy of a program from the Bootle Odeon for June 1963

Programme for Bootle Odeon June 1963

Cinema programs were freely available within cinemas and used to promote forth coming films and local buisinesses. Here we have an original copy of a program from the Bootle Odeon for June 1963

National Lottery Heritage Fund Plaza Cinema