Plaza Cinema
13 Crosby Road North,
Liverpool,
L22 0LD
13 Crosby Road North,
Liverpool,
L22 0LD
2 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Plaza Community Cinema (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Apollo Cinemas, Cannon Cinemas, Classic Cinemas (UK), Odeon Theatres Ltd., Rank Organisation
Architects: Lionel A.G. Prichard
Functions: Movies (Classic), Movies (Family), Movies (First Run)
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Odeon Crosby, Classic Cinema, Cannon, Apollo
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
440151.474.4076
Nearby Theaters
A survivor in the Liverpool suburb of Waterloo, south of Crosby, the Plaza Cinema opened on 2nd September 1939 with Edna Best in “South Riding”. Due to World War II breaking out on that day, the Plaza Cinema holds the distinction of being the only cinema to open and close on the same day. (Public buildings including cinemas and theatres were ordered to close by the government, but this order was rescinded after a couple of weeks).
It was designed by architect Lionel A.G. Prichard and built by Ernest Spencer & Company of Aintree for the independent operator Crosby Entertainments Ltd. It was equipped with a Compton 3Manual/5Rank + melotone unit theatre organ with a fixed illuminated console, which was opened by organist George Dawson.
The Plaza Cinema has been through several ownerships over the years. In 1943 it became part of Oscar Deutsch’s Odeon Theatres Ltd. chain and was re-named Odeon. Classic Cinemas Ltd. took over on 10th December 1967 and it became the Classic Cinema.
It was converted into a three screen cinema in August 1976: (1: 650 seats, 2 & 3: 103 seats each). Screen 1 is most impressive retaining the feel of the original cinema using the circle and front stalls area. The Screen’s 2 & 3 additions are tucked away out of sight under the balcony. Classic Cinemas were taken over by the Cannon Group in May 1983 and it was re-named Cannon. Taken over by Apollo Leisure Ltd. in March 1990, it was re-named Apollo. They announced its closure in 1996 and it closed on 7th November 1996. A groundswell of public opinion saved the cinema and it reopened as the Plaza Cinema on 18th July 1977. The Plaza Cinema is now operated by a charity and is supported by teams of unpaid volunteers who help to keep it operating as a true ‘community’ cinema.
In October 2018 it was announced that the Plaza Cinema would have an organ again. It will be the Wurlitzer 3Manual, 8Ranks organ (with ghost piano) that was originally installed in the Ritz Cinema(later ABC), Ipswich in January 1937. In June 1973 it was removed from the ABC. In the 1980’s it was installed in the Hollywood Plaza Cinema, Scarborough, but in later years got very little use. Installation began in early-2019 and was completed in early-2023.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Here’s some history from theater website:
There has been a cinema on Crosby Road North in Waterloo since 1939. For over 60 years the local community has laughed and cried its way through the Hollywood classics and the best of British and World Cinema. During this time, the building has been a major source of contact with the outside world and within the community. People’s perceptions have been changed, their lives enriched.
And then, in November 1996, the owners decided to close the doors for good and sell the site for redevelopment into yet another new office block.
The community was horrified – petitions were signed, campaigns were instigated and the Plaza Community Cinema Trust was established. A lease was agreed and finally in July 1997 with no financial capital to speak of, but with a wealth of volunteer support, the cinema was reopened (this is a story in itself!), to show Jurassic Park to packed houses.
And so it went on. By Christmas ‘97 all three screens were up and running showing a huge range of films. Then came a whole multitude of film-related activities: – the Arts Screen; the (now over 300-strong) Kids Club; the afternoon social club; several festivals and lots of events: – an Advocacy film week; regular short film nights; a talk by a Holocaust survivor before a showing of Schindler’s List; presentations by directors such as Stephen Frears, Michael Winterbottom and Julian Temple. And the ideas just keep on coming! In January 2000, having raised £325,000 in just four months, the Trust bought the building. And with virtually all the work done by unpaid volunteers and for 364 days per year. Even though we now have a core of paid staff, the Plaza still could not operate without volunteers.
other than on the theater website, maybe you can find a photo & link it?
A set of vintage photographs of the Plaza Cinema, Waterloo:
View link
Three contemporary photos of the Plaza Cinema:–
Exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4638441636/
Main auditorium:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4638441476/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4638441298/
Early 2019 will see the start of the installation of a WurliTzer theatre organ installed back in the Plaza.The organ has previously been in the Ritz/ABC Ipswich and the Hollywood Plaza Scarborough.
Great! I understand that the former ABC Ipswich Wurlitzer was hardly ever played whilst in Scarborough. It is wonderful having these fine instruments housed in traditional cinemas and in regular use.
Below is a link to a video of the very same organ being played by Gerald Shaw whilst still in situ in the Ipswich ABC:–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DADni8APhHk
Terry, Yes that video of Gerald Shaw was uploaded by me.We are going to St Leonards in January to get it out of long term storage (ten years)The console and surround will be restored first externally so it can sit in front of the stage and garner interest(and money).The chambers have been cleared of defunct equipment and now need to be plastered ready for the organ. Adrian
Grand opening ad posted.
The latest on the Wurlitzer organ installation.. This is a first for the uk. THe cinema own the organ and have paid for its restoration. Other organs have gone back into cinemas that previously had organs,but normally they are owned and funded by private individuals. This one although initially started by a private trust was soon gifted to the cinema. And its likely a sum of £100k may have been spent on it. The project stalled of course with Covid.But now it is probably 95% there,although not playing yet. Both chambers have all the component parts installed and the Console is placed at the front of the stalls back onto the Stage apron.its thought it will first play in spring 2023
Whilst researching for plans of the cinema to install the Wurlitzer organ,we went to the public library opposite the cinema and found quite a few plans. The first cinema plans we found were from 1933 and it was to be built 500 yards further up the road at a junction called the five Lamps.This was to be a large Savoy cinema on a triangular site (due to the railway line crossing under the junction).It had a Cafe ,organ chambers over the proscenium and an orchestra pit.The entrance was at the smallest point nearest the road junction. This scheme didnt come to fruition hence another a couple of years later another one popped up.Maybe 1936 and this was a sizeable cinema.I dont recall the name ,maybe Essoldo,but this scheme had now moved to the present plaza site.But this one too had a cafe and organ understage chambers and an orchestra pit.This one too didnt come to fruition.The final scheme that was finally built in 1939 was a vastly reduced one with no cafe,no orchestra pit and the organ pipes in one chamber to the right of the stage.Even the organ was a little un`.The last organ that the John Compton co built it was only two manuals (in a three manual shell with a blank plate where the third manual would have been).It had only five sets of pipes in the upper chamber (now occupied by the main chamber of the Wurlitzer).It had an electronic melotone that would normally have supplied all the tonal percussion effects.But because of this being the last organ,and they must have had stock laying around,it got the real things too. The console wasnt on a lift and spent most of its days in the centre of the stage apron,where the Wurlitzer console now sits.