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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaron Curran

Unearthed pictures of lost Merseyside cinema 'everyone loved'

Photos of a lost Merseyside cinema have sparked memories for a generation who "loved" spending time there.

Newton-le-Willows' Curzon cinema opened its doors in 1935, showing the film “Bright Eyes” starring Shirley Temple. Being the only cinema in the town, people from all over the area would flock to the theatre to watch films on the big screen.

Over the decades, the Curzon would become a favourite, operating for almost 50 years, until the cinema would close its doors in the early 1980s.

READ MORE: Man left with £1,500 damage to luxury mansion after handyman fitted shelves in the dark

Website Cinematreasures.org details some of the layout of the building. The site reads: "Built in the traditional Art Deco style of the time, originally plans had been drawn in 1931 by Liverpool based architect Lionel A.G. Pritchard. Eventually by time of construction, plans designed by architect William T. Harrison were used.

"It was built by Mrs. Frank Haslam Ltd, it was situated directly opposite Earlestown train station, with a brick and cream-tile façade and traditional canopy and staircase leading up to it’s entrance. In its heyday it was seen as modern, clean and spacious, with a rather exquisite interior - tiled and wood panelled walls, terrazzo floors, deep pile carpeting, traditional proscenium arch and grand twin staircases leading to the stalls."

Unearthed photos show lost Merseyside cinema in its heyday (Newtonian Network)

The building was also used as a bingo hall after the closure of the cinema, as well as for snooker. It sat closed for almost a year before it was targeted by an arson attack in 2004.

The premises were demolished in 2010 to make way for a large apartment block. Despite the cinema having closed decades ago, many people still have fond memories of time spent there.

Vanessa Donnelly said: "Used to go every week when I was wee with my nan, mum and auntie when it was made into a bingo hall and early 80s."

Unearthed photos show lost Merseyside cinema in its heyday (Newtonian Network)

Irene Matthews said: "Loved the Saturday Matinee musical chairs on the stage and having buckets of sweets thrown into the audience, proper children's fun."

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