Throughout the project we have been capturing peoples memories of Going to the Pictures.
Many have been recorded using professional quality digital cameras and microphones. These recordings have been edited into short clips for the Going to the Pictures project website and film.

images showing people sharing their cinema memories

Students from Crosby High practicing their camera skills

People who used and worked in the local Picture Houses between the 1930′s and 1960′s period have been invited into the Plaza Community Cinema to share their cinema memories on camera. We have a collection of over 50 interviews ranging from about 30 minutes to 2 hours in length which have been placed within the North West Sound Archive for safe preservation. A DVD collection of cinema memories can also be found within Sefton Records Office. By placing the recorded interviews of cinema memories with the North West Sound Archive we hope that a part of our local cinema heritage is preserved for future generations and not forgotten.

We have heard many funny and interesting stories whilest recording memories of going to the pictures

Students from Crosby High recording cinema memories at intergenerational session

As well as working with Crosby High School to capture cinema memories several volunteers have worked with Heritage Officer Christina Condron throughout the project to record and capture these memories of Going to the Pictures. Special thanks to Sean Reynolds, Bill Morris, Jordan Plant, Johnathon Lines and Beth Greenwood. And of course a huge thank you to all the people who have shared cinema memories with us. We have met some great people and heard some fantastic stories.
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This image shows project volunteer Sean Reynolds filming ex cinema projectionist, Mike Taylor – The last projectionist at the Bootle Odeon Cinema

This image shows volunteer Jordan who helped with editing

This image shows some of the project volunteers setting up to film
This image shows a resident from Nazareth House sharing his cinema memories with Heritage Officer Christina Condron

This image shows Steve Ellison – film historian preparing to share his cinema memories and thoughts on camera

In order to produce our Cinema Heritage Trail Map we have been working a group of students from Crosby High School. The students visited Sefton Records Office to meet local historians view old archive photographs and maps as preparation before producing their own maps. It was an enjoyable afternoon and the students gained an insight into the importance of archiving and as to what artifacts and records Sefton Records Holds.

We would like to thank Sefton Records Office for their support in the project and for the archive cinema images found on this site.

Through the project we have been filming cinema memories, some of these can be seen as small clips on the website, the whole interviews have been deposited into the North West Sound Archive so that part of our local cinema heritage is not forgotten and is preserved for future generations.

The students from Crosby High have developed camera handling skills during the project and were invited to an organised intergenerational event held at the Plaza Community Cinema in which the students asked questions and recorded memories of going to the Pictures from older members of the community. The two generations also had a discussion on the comparisons and differences in cinema going and films today.

We also took the young people from Crosby High School on a trip to Clitheroe to see the work of the North West Sound Archive, learn about asking questions and to see where the cinema memories would be kept.

Students doing role play to practice asking questions about what going to the pictures was like for the older generation

Some of the students also were given the opportunity to film and record cinema memories during the project launch event.

Through the project we have been working with a group of students from Crosby High school to help create a Cinema Heritage Trail Map.

The map depicts the old sites where Picture Houses once stood in the community, placed within landmarks from a modern day context.

The students visited the sites of the old picture houses and looked at archive photographs of what the cinemas once looked like and photograped what is in their place today.

They also went to Sefton Records Office where they looked at old maps of the area.

Working with artist Christine Physick and Heritage Officer Christina Condron, the students helped to develop ideas to create a large scale art work.

The end result can be seen on display at the Plaza Community Cinema and shows the 21 sites where pictures houses have been within the community on a modern day art map.

Using mixed media materials including photography, digital images, drawing and paint the students have produced a huge 7′ x 6′ group piece of art which can be downloaded through this website and used to go on the Going to the Pictures Cinema Heritage Trail. The route can be accessed by foot, car and public transport and is approximately a 3 mile radius from the Plaza Community Cinema.