IN the late 1950s, Liverpool Echo listed 24 cinemas operating in Wirral.

No doubt some earlier closures could have pushed this figure to over 30.

But one cinema Globe readers may well remember was the Continental in Liscard Road.

This was the former court house and converted to a 400-seater cinema, which opened on January 31, 1914.

Over the years it had a number of owners and name changes including that of the Kings in the 1920s.

In 1947, the cinema was brought by Mr Leslie Blond from Liverpool, who went on to open the Phoenix in 1951 in Wallasey Village.

Mr Blood introduced a season of ‘foreign’ films which were so successful.

The cinema in Liscard Road became known as the Continental Picture House which, at that time, was to be Merseyside’s only commercial cinema specialising in foreign films.

This continued up to 1963, the year the cinema closed.

Mr Blood continued to operate his cinema interest in Liverpool with the Hope Hall in Hope Street, the new Albany in Maghull and the Lyceum in Garston.

Mr Blood was pioneer of cinema on Merseyside, being a member of the Cinema Exhibitors Association.

His work at the Continental laid the foundation for the Jacey in Clayton Square, Liverpool.

Mike Taylor Former projectionist at Paramount / Odeon, London Road, Liverpool