CHRISTMAS past in the North East will be brought back to life at a special event today.
The custodians of the region’s film history are holding a free festive showing with footage from Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.
The Northern Region Film & Television Archive (NRFTA) showing is at 1pm in the lecture theatre of the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newcastle.
The festive footage will include the first Sunderland illuminations in Roker Park in 1937.
There will be amateur film from around Newcastle and Corbridge after a four-day rain, sleet and snow storm which began on February 17, 1941.
The Krankies’ New Year Resolutions show from 1984 in North East theatres will also feature while TV footage from the 1960s shows travelling disabled singers performing Christmas songs in the North East.
Tyne Tees Television’s reporter Phil McDonnell is also shown in 1965 interviewing folk for What Do People Think Of Verses in Christmas Cards?
His TV piece from 1963 on returning to work after the Christmas holiday will also be on show.
Another Tyne Tees Television news report by Jack Clarke is about the last men-only pub in Middlesbrough on Christmas Eve.
Film archivist David Parsons said: “These films are a slice of very recent history, yet show us all in very different times. It’s a great privilege to be the custodians of these crucial historical documents.
“Working with these archives is very varied, as each day turns up something new and exciting. We still have so much in our care that we haven’t yet viewed, yet alone digitised for modern equipment.
“These Christmas films will bring back lots of memories, and we hope people will enjoy the show we’ll put on.”
Archives assistant Edward Anderson said: “A major benefit from running the film shows is the amount of extra detail and cataloguing information we get from our audiences whose often excellent memories and knowledge add considerable historical depth to our record-keeping.”
Lit and Phil marketing manager Caroline Livesley said: “Some people will remember what it was like while for others it will be historical footage.”
To book, call (0191) 232 0192 or email library@litandphil.org.uk
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