Merseyside has its fair share of iconic venues that are now confined to the history books after sadly being demolished.
Wallasey, in Wirral, was once home to a cinema that served the local community for more than 70 years. Later known as the Continental Picture House, the building on Liscard Road began life as the Old Court House, which was transformed into a cinema in 1914.
The cell in the basement was said to have housed the huge electricity generator for the new cinema, while around 400 seats were fitted in the main room. From here on out, the venue was known as the Old Court House Picturedrome.
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A few months after opening, the cinema closed for a makeover. It reopened as the Kinema and showed the 1914 short film Partners In Crime. The venue was redecorated numerous times between then and 1922, when it gained a new name - the Kings Cinema - and offered a new attraction in the shape of Maurice Faust’s Augmented Jazz and Symphony Band.
Despite its silent films still being a success, 1931 saw the installation of a British Talking Pictures sound system. The cinema was taken over by a new owner in 1946 and became the Picture House Renovation, but that didn’t last long when Leslie Blond came along in 1947 and took over the cinema.
Leslie, who owned many cinemas in Liverpool, wanted to show a variety of continental films at his new cinema. They proved popular, so he decided to exclusively show foreign films and renamed the cinema Continental Picture House.
It’s these foreign films that one ECHO reader remembers. Patricia said in our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group: “My husband was at Wallasey Grammar School from 1949-1953. When the Continental Cinema opened he used to go every two weeks.
“Most of the films were French though there were some Italian films and there were occasional Russian and German films, as well. It cost twice as much as the usual cinema. He learned many French expressions from watching these movies and the French examiners for the school certificate were very impressed by his accent.”
The Continental Picture House closed on November 2, 1963, with a double bill of 'The Quare Fellow' starring Patrick McGoohan and 'The Battle of the Sexes' starring Peter Sellers. The building went on to be used as a Surewin Bingo Club hall until around 1985 and was demolished in 1986 to make way for flats.
Did you ever visit the Continental cinema? Share your memories in the comments section below.
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