“Regal Cinema, Litherland: pay day pocket money in hand and off to the pictures, it was nine pence to get in, with my friends who lived locally. One favourite film was ‘Singing in the Rain’, starring Gene Kelly – a great film. All the way home we sang the theme song and at every lamp post we said we would swing around it until we came to the ‘chippy’: 3 penneth of chips. What joy, blown the rest the rest of that week’s pocket money. Next it was to the Stella Cinema, Seaforth to see Betty Davies and Paul Hendried in ‘Now Voyager’ – plenty to talk about all week. Another favourite was Deborah Kerr in ‘An Affair to Remember’, you felt you had a great night out. Laurel and Hardy made us laugh so much our sides hurt. One night, on the way home I lost the heel of my shoe, hobbled home and got a good telling off from Mum. But we did love the cinema – Happy Days.”

Anne Price

The Regal was built as a purpose built cinema and opened in 1939.
With a white frontage the modern looking, sail shaped building was very popular.

It was part of the ABC Circuit and showed first run films making the cinema a well attended entertainments venue.

The Regal cinema was also very popular for dates and courting couples, who have shared memories of the double ‘love seats’ which the cinema had installed which had no centre arm rest allowing young lovers to cuddle up in the back row.

The cinema closed in 1962 and became a bowling alley which was popular for a time.

Over the years the building acquired several other changes of use including a night club and disco. Now the former site of the Regal Cinema is apartments.

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The Coliseum also called The Essoldo Cinema, was on Linacre Road in Litherland. This cinema was opened in 1921 and was popular venue for many years. It was designed by the same architects who built the Regent Cinema in Crosby and had several striking resemblance’s.

The Coliseum was a large cinema holding 1400 seats and like the Regent Cinema in Crosby was built with a cafe lounge upstairs which was closed due to fire by the 1930′s.

The ‘Grand Opening’ of the cinema took place on February 28th 1921 with films accompanied by an orchestra.

In 1931 the Coliseum was fitted with a Western Electric Sound System was installed and the first ‘Talkie; shown was the American Musical film ‘Call of the Flesh’ which starred Ramon Novarro and Renee Adoree.

In 1945 A Children’s Cinema Club Matinees was introduced at the Coliseum, which were popular with many youngsters at the time.

In 1954 The Cinema by this time named The Essoldo installed CinemaScope and had secured a contract with Twentieth Century Fox to show first run films in this format beginning with the epic film ‘The Robe’ in November of that year.

By the 1960′s attendances at the cinema had declined and alternative methods of revenue were sought such as talent and fashion shows.

As a last hope effort Bingo was introduced at The Essoldo as a weekly addition to the film screenings.

In 1963 the Essoldo Cinema closed following its decline in admissions. It later became a bingo hall renamed The Coliseum until it was damaged by fire in 1983. The building stood empty for several years and was demolished in the 1990’s to make way for a new housing development.

The last films shown at the Essoldo were ‘Secret of the Incas’ and ‘The Guns of Fort Petticoat’ on September 14th 1963.

The building was then taken over by Top Flight Leisure and changed into a bingo hall being renamed The Coliseum once again until it was damaged by fire in 1983.
The building stood empty for several years and was demolished in the 1990’s to make way for a new housing development. Today houses stand on the site of the former 1920′s Cinema.

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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

“My brother and I would run as fast as we could on our 5 and 6yr old legs from Bark Road to the Regal on Church Rd. with our sixpenny bit cluched in our hands It was the high light of our week Don’t recall what was my fav show (my brother loved The lone ranger and Tonto)I think I just loved the feeling of belonging Loved the bits when the bad guys were winning and we all had to ‘BOOOOOOOO’ or when the good guys were winning the ‘HURRAY’  We came out tired but Happy.

Here’s the naughty bit!! for some reason I was fixated with English Martyrs Catholic church, It was always open back then. I would drag my brother in with threats of his life if he dared to speak once inside. Off we would wander in awe of the many statues inside. Aaaaaah bliss. Then back home to reality.

Can’t imagine a 5-6 yr old being allowed to make that track these days different world, different times back then. Forgot to add the bit about after the film was over (wonder if they still do this in England now?) There was about a 60 second delay after the movie before they started playing ‘God Save The Queen‘ there was a mad dash for the exits in that 60secs. Interestingly enough as soon as the first note struck, not a single child moved,  Also forgot, the ice lolly of the day was a Twicer (it had 2 sticks and you could bash it on the side of the seat and get 2 perfect lollies If you were rich you could get a little tub of ice cream with a wooden spoon

I now live in Canada but still consider Litherland my home.”

Dot Sharp