We were out on a trip to the Hat Museum* and as you having done hats wandered off past Mersey Square up to the covered in market when we passed the open doors of the Plaza.
And quick as a flash I asked the attendant all dressed out in his uniform if we could look inside.
It is place I have often passed but never been in and I have to say that was my loss.
The Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre was opened in 1933 and for the next 30 or so year it showed all the great films of the day, including Stockport’s first 3D presentation in 1954 and in the following year the first Cinemascope show.
Like many picture houses it suffered from declining cinema numbers and in 1966 closed opening the year alter as a Bingo Hall.
And here it could have been the victim of commercial redevelopment but instead was bought by the Stockport Plaza Trust as avenue for live shows and films.
Since then there has been extensive restoration to what is now a listed building and what they have done has to be seen.
Sadly my camera had decided to run out of battery which meant that I could not capture any of the grand interior including the impressive organ.
But my old pal Graham Hill sent me the images of the Plaza today along with some interior photographs from the 1930s, along with a wonderful short film A Visit to the Stockport Plaza.**
*The not so nice side of hat making at the Stockport Hat Works Museum http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/the-not-so-nice-side-of-hat-making-at.html
**The Plaza Stockport, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izc1FeA2nw0&feature=share
Pictures; from the collection Graham Gill
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