Jesmond Picture House is finally demolished

Oct 28 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

ONE OF the region's best loved old cinemas is finally being reduced to rubble, as it makes way for a new office and retail complex.

Demolition work on the facade of the historic Jesmond Picture House, in Newcastle, began yesterday.

For more than 70 years the cinema showed some of the hottest movies from Hollywood to packed audiences.

But as the popularity of the cinema declined so did attendances, and the reels stopped rolling in 1993.

Dozens of onlookers watched on yesterday as massive diggers and other machines moved in to begin tearing the building down. As the masonry fell, some of those watching spoke of their memories of the old cinema.

Ian Young, of Longbenton, used to regularly watch movies at the venue.

He said: “It is a real shame to see it going.

“In the eighties I used to come here all the time with my mates.

“They would have screenings going on till the early hours of the morning and we would all come along on our motorbikes and sneak booze in and watch the films. Great memories.

“I can’t believe there was no way for them to save it, surely it could have made a brilliant music venue.

“I feel sad standing here watching it being demolished, it is part of Jesmond’s history being torn down.”