Tyneside Cinema
10 Pilgrim Street,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 6QG
10 Pilgrim Street,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 6QG
2 people
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Photo of the cinema as the ‘Bijou News Theatre’ upoaded.
I worked here from 1994 to 2006. The photo of the stalls area predates the removal of the Tannoy PA columns c.2001 (some patrons actually thought they were used for films). Projection was Philips DP75 with Peerless Magnarcs burning Marble Double Eagle carbons (supplied by Jack Roe).
I can remember going to this cinema in the 60’s just to watch the cartoons, there was another news cinema at the Haymarket end of town, I think it was called the Tatler.
Photos of the glorious Tyneside from 2014 EXTERIOR
FOYER
CLASSIC
ELECTRA
ROXY
As well as the main auditorium, there was also a smaller cinema upstairs which was originally, I believe a lecture theatre but when the Tyneside Film Theatre opened became the members theatre, but was subsequently licensed for public exhibition as cinema 2. With two cinema screens, they were able to show a wide range of films. Sometimes they would show seasons of a particular genre, e.g. gangster movies such as Little Ceasar and the original Scarface. On one occasion I saw the Buster Keaton silent classic, The General with piano accompaniment. When Elizabeth Welch came to be, interviewed, after the interview they showed Song of Freedom which she had made in 1936 playing opposite Paul Robeson. Cinema 2 was rather plain, but it was the films that were important here.
As the Tyneside Cinema in the 70s and 80s, as well as showing films, they would also invite personalities to be interviewed. I attended talks with such disparate figures as David Puttnam, Don Boyd, Elizabeth Welch and Barbara Windsor. The then film critic of the Guardian, Derek Malcolm also came to give a talk.
Four interiors shots here, showing the circle foyer, and each of the three screens. Taken June 2009.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3662025919/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3662826970/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3662025489/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3662826522/
A beautifully restored, extended, and very friendly cinema. Lucky Geordies!
When I visited the Tyneside Cinema in 2003, I was shown around the Projection room and reel-to-reel changeover projection was still in use here. The projectors were either Philips DP70’s or DP75’s but I am not sure which. They still used Carbon-arc lamps for the light source but I do not know if this is still the case now as they may have updated it during the recent refurbishment.
Exterior shot here:–
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Here are a set of 21 vintage photographs (click on each number):
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