MEMORIES will this week continue its journey through pictures of old cinemas in the area courtesy of local collector Tom Heath.
The Queen’s Picture House, on South Road, Waterloo, was the first purpose-built cinema in the area seating 660.

It was opened in March 1913 and became a focal point for fans of silent films.
Queen’s was equipped for CinemaScope in 1955 and presented some first runs in the district of Twentieth Century Fox releases for six days.
It closed its doors in August 1959 showing I Only Arsked and Buchanan Rides Alone.
Building began on the Corona Cinema, College Road, in 1914, but because of the outbreak of the Great War, it was not completed until 1920 having its grand opening in May that year.

It was the first local cinema to be equipped for sound and the first in the district to have CinemaScope.
But it was also the first post-war cinema closure in north Liverpool, closing its doors in December 1956 with the building demolished a year later.
The Stella Picture House, on Seaforth Road, Seaforth, was built at a cost of £36,000 and described as a super-cinema with seating for 1,200.

Its grand opening took place in December 1920 with bookings beyond expectations.
The cinema’s audiences were at their peak in the late 1940s and its hours of opening increased.
But in 1955, the Stella was suffering due to competition from three other cinemas in the area.
It closed in July 1958 with the double feature If I’m Lucky starring Perry Como and Plunder Road starring Gene Raymond.
In May 1959, the building was used as a roller skating rink before a firm of printers applied to take it over.
This was thrown out by the council and a public inquiry went in their favour.
The building was demolished in 1964 and redeveloped as the Stella shopping precinct.
Do you have Memories or photographs of the old cinemas in the area that you would like to share?
Post your memories here. You don't need to sign up or log in - you just need an email address, which will not be published.

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit