Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Plaza Cinema / Bingo Hall - Borough Road

Hi

Anybody have memories / photo of the old Plaza?

The Plaza was a cinema for many years I remember
going as a 10 / 11 year old, to save money we used to "pool" our money - one of us would buy the ticket and then open the emergency exit into an area we called the "tossies" at the back of the Plaza and let the other lads and girls in from our "gang".

We were often chased by the attendent - lovely old man with a torch and no sense of humour. He used to upset the paying public more than we did, with his torch light trying to find us!

Eventually changed to a bingo hall and we became bingo memebers (would 18 year old males do that now?) so that we go there on a Friday & Saturday when there was a group on and we could dance and have beer that was great as a young 18 year old. - I shudder to think what we looked like - beer in one hand and a bingo ticket and pen in the other!

Can't remember if the building is still standing now?

Dave

Dave, here is the cinema thread to peruse.
https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/569987/1.html

The Plaza was knocked down and the land is now part of a builders merchants yard.

Yes, I well remember the Plaza. It seemed just a bit more "upmarket" than some of the bughouses down town. Probably all in the mind! Was always taken upstairs to the Circle rather than the Stalls. I think it was 6d more. Gasp!

Saw Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea there and remember being scared sh*tless by the giant squid (?) If my memory serves me right, wasn't there an organ that rose up from a pit onto the stage at one time ?

I'm sure Chriskay will chime in on this one Dave. He was a projectionist there !

I remember going to The Plaza to see Elvis in Loving You.

Yes, memory serves. A Compton organ, occasionally played by a school mate of mine.
The Plaza was the largest cinema in town with a capacity of 2500, so larger than both the Ritz and Savoy, with 2000 each.

The Plaza.
From "The Silver Screens of Wirral"

Mind's a blank - where exactly was it on Borough Rd ?

Hi Masterbun

The Plaza was between Kingsland Road and Carlton Road - The photo that is shown here I must admit I can't remember it like this but Chris worked there in the 50s.

I think this photo is before Borough road was widened.

Looking from the direction of the shot to the right would have Bloyds Building yard and to the left would have been a furntiure shop, armed forces recruitment center, and the famous Kingsland Cabaret / Restaurant on the corner.

Opposite would have been the Top Twenty Cafe, Grimshaws the newsagent, and my school pals Mum & Dads corner shop that sold everything. Also would have been Bensons the general DIY shop which eventually became Turleys Pub

Approx

Thanks. Didn't go up that part of Borough Rd very often, turning up Balls Rd East to get home.

i remember marching with my granddad on rememberance sundays.we all used to go into the plaza for the service in the 50s.

Spot on Bert.

Went to see Zulu there with a mate John Done his mum worked there
early 60s

Good times

Link to Ivor Buckingham's site showing Plaza Compton under test. Plaza Compton under test
What happened to it ?

I don't know what happened to the organ, unlike wind pipe (church) organs, a lot of electric organs just disappeared off the horizon.

I remember somewhere that the lift mechanism stopped working at some point but I'm sure it continued to be used after that. I am also sure there is a video of the organ being played but that seems to have disappeared off google search now.