It’s a story familiar across the globe, and Liverpool is no exception. Cinemas were once the go-to place for the latest blockbusters and film releases, but their popularity waned with the rise of the internet and streaming services. Still, these buildings played a vital role in the city’s cultural life. On liverpool-trend.com, we’ll take a look back at the lost cinemas where the people of Merseyside once spent countless hours enjoying the magic of the big screen.
The Fate of Merseyside’s Cinemas
In their heyday, cinemas seemed to be on almost every street corner. Whether it was a family day out, a romantic date, or a school trip, the cinema was a popular choice. However, with the advent of high-quality television and the internet, they gradually began to take a backseat.
As visitor numbers dropped significantly, it became financially unviable to maintain the buildings and staff. Consequently, some cinemas were demolished, while others were converted into bingo halls, nightclubs, or supermarkets. This meant the loss not only of feature films but also of the newsreels and cartoons that were frequently shown in these old picture houses.
A Look Back at Liverpool’s Lost Cinemas
Let’s explore what these cinemas were like and what became of them in the digital age. We’ll also recall some important facts from their history, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The Gaumont Cinema on Park Road, Dingle
Built in the 1930s on the site of the old Dingle Picturedome, this Art Deco building opened its doors in 1937. Located on the corner of Dingle Lane and Park Road, the cinema had a seating capacity of 1,500 and operated for nearly three decades. By the 1960s, however, things had changed, and the Gaumont was converted into a Top Rank Bingo club.
In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the club itself stood empty for several years, passing from one investor to another. Eventually, the former Gaumont building was sold to an unknown bidder at a Venmores auction.
The Graphic Cinema on Bowler Street, Kensington
Now home to the Living Believers Church and a community centre, this building on Bowler Street, Kensington, was once the luxurious Graphic Cinema. It opened on 12 May 1922, during the silent film era. The first film shown was the 1920 picture “Idols of Clay,” a copy of which is preserved in the State Film Fund archive in Moscow.
The cinema had 630 seats and a tiny balcony, with seating arranged in boxes and on circular tiers. In 1932, the building changed hands and was renamed the Cosy Cinema, where it continued showing films for another 26 years. It closed in 1958 after screenings of “Zarak” and “Cha, Cha Cha, Boom!” and was repurposed as a meat storage warehouse. It later served as a showroom for boat engines before becoming the aforementioned church in the early 2000s.
The ABC Cinemas on Lime Street
Lime Street was once home to three ABC cinemas – a large one and two smaller venues. The larger cinema overlooked the St Johns Shopping Centre, while the smaller ones were known as the Futurist and the Scala.
In its heyday, the large ABC was a picture of luxury. Today, although the building still stands, nothing of its former glory remains. It is no longer used for its original purpose, following a decision by Liverpool City Council to convert it into a performance venue.
The Futurist opened back in 1912, originally named the Lime Street Picture House, and closed 70 years later. Initially positioned as an upmarket venue, its role shifted during wartime to boosting public morale and disseminating news. Problems began when the cinema was left without an owner and a new one couldn’t be found, leading to its gradual decline. We have covered this in more detail here.
The Scala cinema appeared in 1916. It featured a classical facade, while the auditorium was styled with an Egyptian theme. There were 620 seats, including 220 in a circle that extended towards the proscenium and led to the exits. In 1920, the Scala and the Futurist merged to form a single company, Futurist (Liverpool) Ltd. In 1929, the cinema screened its first sound film, “Lucky Boy.”
During the Second World War, the Scala was damaged by bombing and had to close for six weeks. In the 1950s, the venue shifted to showing second-run films and adult movies (rated 16+ or 18+). In 1955, the Scala was leased to 20th Century Fox and equipped with CinemaScope technology, making it one of the first cinemas in the city to show widescreen films.
The Scala closed in the late 1950s, as the output from 20th Century Fox was insufficient to sustain the building. New owners, Gala Film Distributors, soon resumed film screenings but relinquished management in 1962. The tradition of showing adult films continued during its “independent” years until the building was taken over by ABC in 1967.
Both the Futurist and the Scala closed in 1982. With dwindling audiences, no further attempts were made to revive them. The Scala stood empty for five years until it was converted into a nightclub in 1987. Other similar venues followed, but they too were short-lived. The building was eventually demolished between 2016 and 2017 as part of the Lime Street regeneration project.
The Mayfair in Huyton Village
The Mayfair opened in 1937 with a screening of “The Plainsman,” starring Gary Cooper. The cinema could accommodate over 1,000 patrons, including 333 on the balcony. It often showed old Westerns, earning it the nickname “The Ranch” from locals. The cinema was forced to close in 1960 after a final showing of “I’m All Right Jack.” A Boots pharmacy now occupies the site.
The Reo Cinema on Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley
This cinema opened on 1 April 1933. The red-brick building housed an auditorium that ran parallel to Longmoor Lane. For a time, it was a popular leisure spot, but by 1961 it had fallen out of favour. The building stood derelict for a while before becoming a bingo club, which itself closed for refurbishment in the 1980s. The Mecca Bingo Club finally closed in 1998, and the historic building was demolished to make way for a housing development.
The Mayfair Cinema on Aigburth Road
This cinema was in operation from 1937. Photographs from 1969 show it in its prime. It was one of the first to be located not in Liverpool city centre but in the suburbs, boasting a capacity of 1,750. Surprisingly, by 1973, the Mayfair on Aigburth Road was deemed redundant and, after showing “The Last Picture Show,” it closed its doors for good.
The Odeon Cinema on London Road
This multiplex was once a landmark in Liverpool and notably survived until the end of the second millennium. Many people enjoyed iconic films there over the years, but after the opening of the new Odeon complex in Liverpool ONE, the old cinema was demolished.
Had it remained, it would have undoubtedly screened many more blockbusters, perhaps even the action-packed film “The Batman,” which was partially filmed in Liverpool.
Final Thoughts on the Fate of Liverpool’s Old Cinemas
It’s no wonder that for many, the mention of Liverpool’s old cinemas evokes a sense of nostalgia. Here are a few thoughts on what happened and why.
Cinemas were once a primary source of adrenaline-fueled entertainment, but a growing saturation of films of all kinds led to a decline in interest. The golden age of the picture house is now firmly in the past.
In the past, the cinema experience was enhanced by live concerts and ice cream during the interval. Over time, these attractions lost their appeal as audiences preferred to spend a memorable evening in front of their televisions or computer screens with popcorn and crisps. The beginning of the end can be traced back to the post-World War II period and the rise of television. Furthermore, single-screen cinemas lost the battle against multiplexes, which could show several films at once.
Ultimately, progress inevitably means that the old gives way to the new. For Liverpool’s film lovers, this has been a clear reality in recent decades.
