Many of us remember the cinemas of yesteryear. The places where we could go to enjoy a film after working hard all week. The cinema used to provide good, clean entertainment for all the family.

The 'Picture Palaces' were beautiful, ornately decorated venues. To many people, the cinema was a house from home, a place where you would visit at least once a week.

Walking into the foyer, across the marble floors and onto the thick, red carpets would give patrons a feeling of excitement and anticipation, almost as enjoyable - and certainly as memorable as the films themselves.

Of course, in these days, it was perfectly acceptable to light a cigarette in the auditorium. In fact, if you went to the second showing of the evening, the air would be full of smoke - so many people made sure they went to the first showing. This would never be allowed today, but it certainly added to the atmosphere.


We have recently opened a website - The Picture Palaces of Yesteryear - where you can see a collection of photographs of cinemas. Most are now closed or converted, but it is interesting to look back at these buildings.

I hope you will join us as we look back on the Golden Age of Cinema and remember those visits to watch the latest movies on the Silver Screen.

Visit our website at

picturepalaces.fotopic.net email - rscgroup@aol.com

There is also a forum which can be accessed via the website - please feel free to leave your comments and memories.

picturepalaces.fotopic.net (http://www.picturepalaces.fotopic.net)

is certianly a great site, those old cinema pics are interesting. The bingo hall in Garston used to be a picture house and is Woolton on there?

Thanks for that!

At the moment I am looking into all ald picture houses and especially those in the Liverpool area. I am sure we will get to Garston in the near future.

Photos of Woolton picture house should be on the site in the next day or two as we have already visited this cinema.

Woolton Picture House is still trading and is the oldest remaining operational cinema in Liverpool

There is an old Gaumont cinema on Oakfield rd. It has been refurbished a few years ago and is now used for community facilities. The stage and seating is now used for local meetings, concerts, etc.

try this link ...
http://www.liverpoollighthouse.com/venue.asp

hey great site, i will be looking at that over the next few days. i have a few pictures of cinemas i might send in.:)

PicturePalaces, u certainly are passionate about cinema and it is evident u have put a lot of work into your webby and forum, hope it becomes a success! Good luck :PDT11

Isn't Woolton Picture house the oldest one in Liverpool?

Or the oldest lasting one that isn't closed?

Thanks for all your comments,

Picture houses is something that I have become interested in over recent years and while I cannot remember them in their heyday, I enjoy researching and learning about them.

Any comments or photographs are gratefully recieved. Whilst this forum is absolutely brilliant, anybody interested in cinema is invited to use our small forum by going to the link on our site:
www.picturepalaces.fotopic.net

Cheers, Stu.

Thanks for all your comments,

Picture houses is something that I have become interested in over recent years and while I cannot remember them in their heyday, I enjoy researching and learning about them.

Any comments or photographs are gratefully recieved. Whilst this forum is absolutely brilliant, anybody interested in cinema is invited to use our small forum by going to the link on our site:
www.picturepalaces.fotopic.net (http://www.picturepalaces.fotopic.net)

Cheers, Stu.

Thanks Stu, for your support and kind words, hope u stick around here ;) I'll be over to yours too.

The Clubmoor pix opened 31st Oct. 1925. It was a posh place then. !000 seats, and a steep floor, was said to be the only cinema in Liverpool where you could see right over the head of the guy in front of you. Unusual was the large inside waiting room, so patrons didn't have to stand out in the rain. It always rained, didn't it. lol. The show on opening day was Argentine Love starring Bebe Daniels. The Clubby closed in 1960, with the last show being The Story on Page One, with Rita Hayworth. It became a supermarket.
Many a great time was had in the Clubby, I had me first cuddle in the back row in the saturday matinee.

There is a great book out called 'Picture Palaces of Liverpool' by Harold Ackroyd. It's put out by Bluecoat Press.

The supermarket was there for years but it closed and now it has been converted to an indoor kids play area with a cafe for the parents.

Some other old cinemas around that neck of the woods were; The Royal on Breck rd (now a furniture warehouse), the Cabbage Hall, Lower breck rd, which is now the LFC supporters club, the Gaumont Oakfield rd which I already mentioned, the Hippodrome ( demolished) up by Brougham Terrace, and of course the Carlton cinema in Tuebrook.

:) Over the years Garston Village boasted three cinemas. The first one opened
around 1911 to about1924, it was called the "Snow Drop", officially it was called the Garston Picturedrome, it could seat 900 people and was situated in Heald Street. The second was the Garston Empire, opened 1915, and screened its final film in 1962...the movie being "Jailhouse Rock" situated Church Road and James Street. The third cinema was the Lyceum, opened 1922, with the film "Hands Off", starring Tom Mix and the cinema advertised as being the most luxurious cinema in the area, it could seat 800. The cinema closed in 1959, the last films being "Never Steal Anything Small", starring James Cagney. No Name on the Bullet, starring Audie Murphy. Situated at St.Marys Road and Derby Grove.
Garston in the rare old days, have many happy memorise of the Empire, and the Lyceum.

:) Over the years Garston Village boasted three cinemas. The first one opened
around 1911 to about1924, it was called the "Snow Drop", officially it was called the Garston Picturedrome, it could seat 900 people and was situated in Heald Street. The second was the Garston Empire, opened 1915, and screened its final film in 1962...the movie being "Jailhouse Rock" situated Church Road and James Street. The third cinema was the Lyceum, opened 1922, with the film "Hands Off", starring Tom Mix and the cinema advertised as being the most luxurious cinema in the area, it could seat 800. The cinema closed in 1959, the last films being "Never Steal Anything Small", starring James Cagney. No Name on the Bullet, starring Audie Murphy. Situated at St.Marys Road and Derby Grove.
Garston in the rare old days, have many happy memorise of the Empire, and the Lyceum.

Brilliant Jimmy ;) I must get those pictures of garston back up.

The supermarket was there for years but it closed and now it has been converted to an indoor kids play area with a cafe for the parents.

Some other old cinemas around that neck of the woods were; The Royal on Breck rd (now a furniture warehouse), the Cabbage Hall, Lower breck rd, which is now the LFC supporters club, the Gaumont Oakfield rd which I already mentioned, the Hippodrome ( demolished) up by Brougham Terrace, and of course the Carlton cinema in Tuebrook.

I just found out .. the Gaumont and Clubmoor are in the web-site Kev posted on the other page (picture palaces).
Bobbymac, if you look in that web-site you will see the 'Clubby' as it is now - a childrens play area. Look under 'L' for Liverpool (sorry, I'm stating the obvious ) :rolleyes: :)

There is a great book out called 'Picture Palaces of Liverpool' by Harold Ackroyd. It's put out by Bluecoat Press.


Ive got that book and its really good:) its on sale in the book clearence shop in st Johns market.

Hi, if you look on page #56 (Palladium) The fella on the left is my M8 Tom's Grand dad.:)

Hi, if you look on page #56 (Palladium) The fella on the left is my M8 Tom's Grand dad.:)


Just looked Bobby, cool pic , nice cinema

I seethey where showing the Ten Commandments

Tony

Remember the Gem,Gaitey,Derby,Rosse,Tiviy,Homer,Poplar,The Reo,Astoria
Fergie

Hi there.

I've recently started work on a local history project, based at Liverpool Lighthouse. A group of 14 - 16 year-olds are investigating 150 years of entertainment in North Liverpool. Any more information about the old cinemas would be very useful indeed. (I've tried clicking on the fotopic link above, but the gallery doesn't come up).

Thanks,

Ed

Hi there.

I've recently started work on a local history project, based at Liverpool Lighthouse. A group of 14 - 16 year-olds are investigating 150 years of entertainment in North Liverpool. Any more information about the old cinemas would be very useful indeed. (I've tried clicking on the fotopic link above, but the gallery doesn't come up).

Thanks,

Ed

Try this thread:

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2333