The films shown would depend on the  cinema and what film circuit it was under. New films were released in what was called first runs or first release , these would generally go out to the larger circuit of cinemas first,usually  in town centres before being released to surburban cinemas in what would be called the second run or second release, this could sometimes be weeks or months later.

Films were also re – released, often years after their initial showing in cinemas, but as film programmes changed so frequently and often more than one film would be shown within the weekly program, a chance to see a film again was popular with cinema goers.

The smaller cinema circuits and independent cinemas often struggled to get first or even second run films but as cinema going was such a popular pastime  a screening of a re-release  would be well attended.

Here we have an original copy of a Cinema programme from  Bootle Odeon  June 1963. in the programme there were two re-releases from 1954 , ‘Ulysees’ and ‘Atilla the Hun’, both films were described as ‘Sword and Sandals’ films, but were still popular with audiences almost nine years after original first release.

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As well as adverising forthcoming and current film attractions, cinema programmes often promoted local business as well. Local firms would pay for advertising space which would assist in the cost of publication of the cinema programme.

The adverts themselves are quite interesting pieces of social history. One of the adverts on the programme below is for a heel bar in Bootle, offering to change the colour of your shoes to match your summer outfit, this is a service unheard of today in our modern disposable consumer society.

Although by this time television in the home had become more popular, we can see from this  cinema programme that the showing of older films or re releases was still common place. Notice that the first double programme of the month were two re releases;  ’Witness For The Prosecution’ from 1957 and ‘The Far Country’  from 1954.

The biblical epic ‘Barabbas’  from 1962 was at the time on general release.

The ‘X’ rated main feature ‘Grip of Fear ‘ states underneath ‘Adults only’

Notice that two of the supporting features were re releases;  ’Operation Mad Ball,’ 1957, and ’3 Coins in a Fountain,’ 1954 and were abridged versions. This means that the film had been edited or condensed to fit in with the timings of the main feature and other film screenings.

Jessica Irene Sexton was born in 1917; her family then lived in a small cottage in Vale Road, Crosby, opposite St. Luke’s Church. In the 1930s Rene, as she liked to be known, went into domestic service. She worked for a family in a house called ‘Graigmin’, situated on the corner of Mariners Road, Crosby. This house is still there and is now a Doctor’s surgery. On her days off, Rene used to meet friends at the bottom of South Road, Waterloo.

One day Rene met a young man, who was on leave from the Merchant Navy. He invited her to the pictures next evening. There was great local excitement, as a new cinema was opening that night. That cinema was the Plaza, on Crosby Road North, Waterloo. It was a Gala Night, the Lord Mayor was present and the audience were given souvenir programmes. The film shown was ‘South Riding, the star was Ralph Richardson. The young couple decided to meet again the next week. The date was 2nd September 1939! Sadly, war was declared next day and the Plaza closed.

Rene never saw her sailor friend again. It was assumed he had been recalled to the Navy. Rene later joined the A.T.S. and due to her skills at cooking she became a cook to the officers’ mess, made many friends and enjoyed service life

Memories of Jessica Irene Sexton – submitted by Alice Molloy.

A flyer handed to cinemagoers at the Bootle Gaumont for the forthcoming 1962 films
‘The Day of the Triffids’ and ‘Legions Last Patrol’

The film ‘ Day of the Triffids’ was based on a famous John Wyndham sci-fi novel of the same name.

Interestingly the main theme to the supporting film ‘The Legions Last Patrol’ was released as a single in the UK and got to number 4 in the charts in 1963.

The film had an ‘X’ certificate on release and is regularly shown on television, however on the film’s DVD release it was given a 15 certificate.

Below is a scanned copy of a  flyer handed out to cinemagoers advertising  films from March 1961. The films showing in the cinema at that time were ’Cape Fear,’ the main attraction and also  ‘Danger by my Side’. This flyer was distributed at the Bootle Gaumont Cinema and has been stored for over 50 years.

The film ‘Cape Fear’ starred Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, and was subsequently remade in 1991, starring Robert DeNiro and Nick Nolte.

The original film received an ‘X’certificate on release but it is regularly shown on television, however on the film’s DVD release it was given a 15 certificate.

The brochures contained details of the stars appearing in the films, the technical credits, stills and a synopsis of the film together with historical data if appropriate.

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 had a seating capacity of 1300 and was perceived at the time to be the finest cinema in the suburbs, with its graceful structure and decoration.

The proceeds from the opening programme on 18th May 1922 were donated to the Mayors Unemployment fund. Amongst the first films shown at the Gainsborough were D.W.Griffith’s masterpiece ‘The Love Flower’ with Carol Dempster and Richard Barthelmess. The cinema also had an orchestra this was retained longer than most cinemas in the area as the cinema was not equipped for sound until August 1930.

The Gainsborough was part of the ABC Circuit and ran popular children’s cinema matinees through the 30′s to 1960. They would often have talent and variety shows laid on for the children to support the film program and competitions such as fancy dress and singing.

The cinema had voluntary child cinema monitors who would help out at the children’s cinema matinees. Each child monitor would be in charge of a few rows of cinema seats and their job was to maintain cleanliness and order

Despite growing competition from other local cinemas, the Gainsborough remained a successful cinema until the late 1950’s. As with lots of cinemas at this time the increase of televisions in the home and increase of leisure activities spelt its demise and on 12th November 1960 the Gainsborough closed its doors as a cinema and showed its last films – ‘The Bellboy’ featuring Jerry Lewis and ‘Tarzan The Magnificent’.

The building was then acquired by Mecca Ltd and was converted into a Bingo Hall which was popular until the 1980’s.

Local people have mentioned that when the building was being demolished the ornate features from the building were put into storage, the whereabouts of these are unknown. On the site today is an extension of the car show rooms.

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The project has been very fortunate in having several people who have come forward with items or collections of cinema memorabilia. Volunteers through the project have helped to scan and digitize materials and a selection of which can be found through this website.

We would like to thank the following for their contributions:

Bill Morris – Bill has a large collection of cinema related memorabilia including original cinema programs, magazines and posters. He developed his love of cinema and began collecting from an early age, he has been involved in the project from the beginning and kindly brought along his collection to display at the project launch event and has digitally scanned images from his collection and uploaded them to the project website.

Joe Humphries – Joe is a huge film fan and has a specific interest in Hollywood legend James Dean and has written a book about his life. He has a large collection of candid photographs, rare magazines and programs which he also kindly displayed for the project launch event. These collections helped to prompt memories and led to topics of conversation among the guests

Steve Ellison is a film and cinema historian, he has been involved in the project from the early days and has provided much background information and pieces of cinema memorabilia. For the project launch event he kindly loaned us some of his collection of serials from the children’s matinees of the 1930′s to the 1960′s. The original batman was a great hit and had the audience cheering and booing just like when they watched as children.

Keith Rose has an interest in Liverpool cinemas and buildings and has been researching and developing an archive of cinema images for several years. He is currently writing a book on the topic and has allowed the use of some of his archive photographs and memorabilia for the project.

Mary Cross – had kept an original program from 1947 when the Plaza Cinema held a Starlight parade midnight matinee. She has strong memories of attending the event and remembers loaning her aunts fur stole for the glamorous occasion.

Barbara Smith – Barbara had a copy of Photoplay and has provided information and photographs for the project. She was also brave enough to sing the children’s cinema song all the way through on camera for us and provided us with the words.

James Walsh – As a boy James was a monitor in the Gainsborough Cinema for the ABC Minors Children’s Cinema Matinees. He continued going to the pictures as he got older and had kept an original film listing program from the Gainsborough Cinema from 1956 which he allowed us to scan for the project

We have also been fortunate to have several people donate photographs to the project and would like to thank all who have contributed