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

If it was the Corona we would have an early tea, rush from Brownmore Lane down Endbutt Lane through Coronation Park to get to the Corona Picture House, which was were the Co-op shop is now in College Road. The park would be closed when we went home so we walked the full length of College Road, Kingsway, Stuart Road and into Brownmore Lane: A long evening out.

Most Saturday afternoons I would go with school friends to the Stella in Seaforth, as the father of one of my friends was the manager and we would get in free.

Sometimes we would go to the Queens or the Winter Gardens picture houses; they were also known as the ‘Flea Pit’.

We always had to stand in queues to get into any picture house.

On Saturday mornings there was a club for children, I think it was 6 pence to get in.”

Cherie Bootle

The Plaza made history by being the only cinema to open and close on the same day September 2nd 1939 – this was due to war time regulations regarding the closure of public entertainment venues. The Plaza re-opened two weeks later and has had an illustrious history ever since.

The cinema opening was a grand occasion attended by several local dignitaries. Mr. Phillip M. Hanmer who was managing director of the cinema pulled of a fantastic piece off showmanship enjoyed by the Plaza Cinema audience at the opening ceremony, by having a film of congratulations made in Hollywood by American Film Producer, Warren Williams which was made possible by M. J. Friedman of Columbia Picture Corporation. The film was shot in Hollywood , flown by Yankee Clipper to New York, crossed the Atlantic on the ‘Queen Mary’, was then processed in London before travelling to Waterloo in time for the opening ceremony on 2nd September 1939.

The entire proceeds of £102, 10s, 6d from the opening ceremony were donated to Waterloo Hospital.

When the Plaza Cinema opened it had a Compton organ which would accompany film screenings and provide entertainment when the cinema hosted variety shows and events. The original organ is still in existence although the Plaza is no longer its home, it is now in Derbyshire where it has been lovingly restored and refurbished. Further details about the organ can be found from the Cinema Organ Society website.

As well as showing the popular films of the day, the Plaza has always been “More Than a Cinema”. In the heart of the comunity from the early years right through to today, providing entertainment for young and old.

Many happy memories have been shared with the project about the popular children’s cinema matinees, the family entertainment and additional attractions provided through the venue such as variety acts and talent shows.

Several popular variety acts and entertainers have apeared at the cinema over the years including Arthur Askey, Hilda Baker, Ted Ray, Charlie Chester and Tommy Handley.

The cinema today retains many of its art deco features but the structural lay out of the building was changed in 1976 when it was changed from a single screen cinema to having three screens.

The cinema has had several name changes including The Odeon, The Classic, The Cannon, and The Apollo, and over the years has had a turbulent and rocky history facing closure on several occasions. But due to the effort of volunteers and the support from the local community, the Plaza is still here, now named The Plaza Community Cinema it is the only original picture house in the area which has survived life as a cinema, and one of only two in the whole of Liverpool which remain from the 130+ cinemas of that time of the ‘Golden Age’ of cinema, when going to the pictures was such an important and popular thing to do.

In 2012 the cinema underwent change again when it went from showing films on reels to that of digital film shows. New plush seating was installed in the main auditorium downstairs and much on going refurbishment has taken place.

EXPLORE MORE POSTS ABOUT THIS CINEMA

The site had long been known as an entertainment venue and had previously been known as Marsh Fields hosting Lord Sanger’s travelling Circus and troupes of pierrots and travelling fairs.

The cinema was opened on 21st May 1920 and was originally built for a small group company but handed over to the larger GB Circuit in 1928.

The cinema was a large white building and had the name The Corona Cinema in gold letters at the top.

From when it opened the cinema had an orchestra which would accompany the silent films, as cinemas at that time didn’t have sound systems or speakers like they do now and narrative of the film would be shown via text on the screen.

Page boys would be employed by The Corona and carry sandwich boards around the area promoting the latest films and coming attractions.

The Corona was the first local cinema to be equipped for sound on March 31st 1930 showing the ‘Great Gabbo’ featuring Eric von Stroheim and Betty Compson. It was known locally as the “Talkie House with Orchestra.” The Corona had strong competition from other local cinemas.

In 1942 the nearby Plaza and the Corona were owned by the same company – Circuits Management Association, and the Corona was the first suburban cinema in this chain to close.

The Corona closed as a cinema in 1957. It then became a dance hall and was later demolished. Now shops stand in its place.

Explore posts related to this cinema

The building was originally St. Luke’s Parish Hall until it was converted into a cinema seating 500.

In 1915 the cinema secured sole rights to screen the Charlie Chaplin films, he was a very popular comedian/ actor at the time.

The cinema was last advertised in the newspapers in July 1916 and appears to have closed around about that time. It then went back to being St. Luke’s and showed plays.

To this very day the building is still in existence and is known as Crosby Comrades Club and used a bar and social club.

Explore posts related to this cinema

The plans show original designs for the cinemas, changes of use of buildings for conversion into picture houses as well as upgrades and alterations to the buildings, such as installation of sound systems.

Heritage Officer for the project Christina Condron has photographed the plans and a selection can be found below and throughout this website. We would like to thank Liverpool Records Office for allowing us to photograph and use the images for use within the Going to the Pictures Project.

Architectural plans for the Plaza Cinema Crosby Road North Waterloo

Architectural plans of The Queens Picture House South Road Waterloo.

Architectural plans for the Corona Cinema College Road Crosby

Architectural plans for the Bijou Cinema East Street Waterloo

Architectural plans for the Stella Cinema Seaforth Road Seaforth

Architectural plans for the Palladium Seaforth Road Seaforth

Architectural plans for the Regent Cinema Liverpool Road Crosby

Architectural plans for The Coliseum, Linacare Road, Litherland