“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 original building of what was the Palladium Cinema still stands today and has been part of the community for 100 years, having several changes of use. It is currently used as a gymnasium.

The images below show original architectural plans for the Palladium Cinema photographed courtesy of Liverpool Records Office

The Palladium was built in 1913 and opened to the public on Christmas day. It was a popular cinema for many years until increased opposition from the building of other local cinemas.

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The Palladium was one of the last cinemas in the area to be installed for sound films ‘talkies’ in December 1930 and had musical accompanying the films and the words on screen to help tell the narrative of the story.

the image below shows a newspaper advertisement from 1957 showing the attractions at some of the local picture houses

Over the years additional attractions such as talent shows and variety acts were implemented in the hopes of increasing cinema attendance.

By the late 1950’s admissions had declined and The Palladium was closed as a cinema in 1959.

image below shows staff of the Palladium Cinema

The buildings later uses included a tobacco store and second hand furniture shop. The building is now a gymnasium called Fitness First and still retains several of its original features both inside and outside.

The image above shows what was the old Palladium Cinema building as it stands today.
The building has been a part of the community in Seaforth for almost 100 years and has had several uses, it is now used as a gymnasium and is still sporting many original features.

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architectural plans for The Stella

It was described as a “super cinema with seating for 1,200”.

Opening in December 1920, the cinema was a popular venue for many years until film bookings became more difficult to come by and restricted their use of first run films.

The Stella has been described as being “a grand cinema” and a “bit posh”. With glazed white marble like facia and steps leading in.

In July 1958 the Stella showed its last pictures with the double feature of ‘If I’m lucky’ staring Perry Como and ‘Plunder Road’ which stared Gene Raymond. The building was used for a very short time as a roller skating rink before being demolished to make way for Stella Shopping Prescient.

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This image shows the interior of the old Palladium Cinema in Seaforth. The ornate decorative features have lasted for almost a century within this building which has had many uses including the cinema, a warehouse and now a gymnasium.

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

“In the Summer of 1939 on the eve of World War II, I was 12 years old. My mother sent me on a ‘holiday; to my sister who was in married quarters at The Kings Regt. Barracks off Sandringham road, Seaforth. {Sandy Road}

I recall two visits to The Stella, A narrow frontage fairly low grade Picture House. Prices were low and matched the general standard / age of the films shown. My recollections are of seeing :-The Informer – An Irish Troubles Story staring Victor Mc Laglen and The Scarlet Pimpernel – French period drama starring Leslie Howard as Sir Peter Blakeney.

My memory of the interior is not now too clear – bearing in mind most of the time the lights were out. I believe it was quite a small picture house – about a third of the size of sat The Plaza Crosby. Seating at the Stella was very basic in keeping with the price/standard of custom they set themselves i.e. low rental fees for old well used films equated to similarly low admission prices. I believe they had matinees several days in a week and were open most if not all {except Sundays} in the 1930’s.

As a boy going to The Pictures in a strange location of Seaforth coming from the “Far Off” area of Anfield – It was an experience to be remembered although the building was forgettable.”

Eric Hooton

 
Watch Eric’s video memory below