In an age of Netflix and Amazon Video, it's still a thrill to take a trip to the cinema to catch a movie as soon as it's released.
There was a time when the much-loved cinemas on Lime Street and London Road would see hundreds of movie-goers forming long queues outside at the release of a big Hollywood blockbuster. And they didn't just show films, there was a time cinemas would also show newsreels and cartoons.
Sadly, many of Liverpool's historic, and often beautiful, cinemas have disappeared as areas of the city redevelop. There was a time cinemas were a common site on many streets outside the city centre, long before the days of streaming movies straight to your TV.
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While some of the old cinema buildings have been repurposed others have sadly been demolished. Luckily, Liverpool still has some fantastic cinemas and picture houses, including FACT and Odeon in Liverpool ONE and a number of large multiplexes slightly further from the city centre.
So to celebrate the beautiful former cinema buildings that are still standing, and to lament those that are gone forever, the Liverpool Echo has put together a list of some of the best. Let us know in the comments if there are others you think should be included.
ABC Cinema Lime Street
Lime Street was once dominated by three ABC cinemas - the large one overlooking St John's shopping centre and the mainline railway station, along with its two smaller cousins, the Futurist and the Scala. The large one overlooking St John’s used to look majestic in its heyday but closed its doors in 1998.
The original building still stands, but in a very different form which is far from its past glory. In November 2019, it was reported a "number of options" were being considered for the future of the site - three years after the council gave the green light for plans to turn it into a performance venue.
Futurist and Scala cinemas
Opened as Lime Street Picture House in 1912, the Futurist Cinema operated until closing in 1982. It was first opened as an upmarket city centre cinema, but later played a critical role keeping up morale during the war and informing people of the news.
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However, unable to find a new owner it was left to gradually decline. The long-disused Futurist and Scala cinemas were demolished in 2016 as part of a controversial redevelopment of Lime Street.
A Lidl store now covers part of the Ion's Lime Street development in Liverpool city centre.
Gaumont cinema, Park Road, Dingle
Opened in 1937, a 1,500-seat cinema stood on the corner of Dinge Lane and Park Road. The art deco building was built to replace the old Dingle Picturedome, and functioned as a cinema for nearly three decades.
In the 1960s though, the building was turned into a Top Rank Bingo Club. It has now stood empty and unused for a number of years, despite being bought and resold by potential investors looking to transform the site.
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In 2019, the former Gaumont was put up for sale with Venmores Auctions, who have since confirmed that it was sold to an unknown bidder.
Odeon cinema, London Road
The multi-screen Odeon cinema in London Road was once the only one of its kind in Liverpool, and survived well into the new millennium. Many of us will remember going to see iconic films at the venue through the years.
But after Odeon opened its new complex in Liverpool ONE, the old cinema was demolished to make way for a large development of new student flats. The scheme was halted when the original developer ran into difficulties though, although the development looks now to be near completion.
The Mayfair, Huyton Village
The Mayfair in Huyton Villlage opened in 1937 with the film The Plainsman, starring Gary Cooper, and could seat 676 people in the stalls - as well as a further 333 on the balcony seats above. Many nicknamed the Mayfair "the Ranch", as it was popular for screening lots of old Westerns.
The latest series of Memory Lane is in major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Home Bargains and selected newsagents now. This series of the bumper picture special looks at fun in the sun - with stunning photographs and treasured memories of family holidays from years gone by. You can also buy Memory Lane online here.
The Huyton cinema closed on April 30, 1960, screening I'm All Right Jack starring Ian Carmichael as its final showing. Now, a Boots chemist stands in its place. If you look above Huyton’s Boots chemist today, you can see the building’s external structure.
Majestic cinema, Daulby Street
On the corner of Daulby Street and Prescott Street a cinema delighted viewers since 1914. The last one, the Majestic, opened in 1937 and was closed in 1970 with a screening of Alfred Hitchco*ck’s The Birds and Howard Keel in The Day of the Triffids.
Due to its sturdy construction, demolition of the building proved to be a difficult task. The site is now part of the grounds of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Mayfair cinema, Aigburth Road
Stunning pictures from 1969 show the Mayfair Cinema, on Aigburth Road, in its heyday. It first opened on May 1, 1937, with Educating Evans, and was one of Liverpool’s first suburban cinemas.
The cinema had capacity for 1,750 people. Its last film was The Last Picture show on June 23, 1973. It then became a Mecca Bingo Club, but was later demolished in 1984 and a Home Kwik Save supermarket was built there. Now, the site is occupied by a Home Bargains.
The Reo cinema, Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley
First opened in April 1, 1933, the Reo made its debut with film Where’s George. The red brick building had the auditorium running parallel to Longmoor Lane and was a well-loved venue in its time.
ABC closed the cinema in January 14, 1961. It lay empty for many years until it was turned into a Mecca Bingo Club, before closing again for refurbishment in the mid 1980s.
In 1998 the Mecca Bingo Club finally closed though, and the historic building was demolished to make way for housing.
Rialto cinema, Toxteth
The Rialto opened on the corner of Berkeley Street and Upper Parliament Street in Toxteth in 1927. It was taken over by Gaumont British Cinemas in 1929.
The imposing corner facade was covered in white tiles and had a central balcony, flanked by two large domed towers. There was room for 1,305 people in the stalls and 500 in the balcony.
There was also a dance hall and a resident orchestra when it first opened. The Rialto Garden Cafe had 60 tables and there was also a fully equipped billiard hall.
The cinema closed in 1964, and was later converted into an antique furniture store. The building was destroyed during the Toxteth riots in July 1981. Following the demolition of the remains of the building, a block of shops and offices called Rialto House was built on site.
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