Apollo Entertainment Centre
Shields Road,
Byker,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE6 1EJ
Shields Road,
Byker,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE6 1EJ
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Remember going to see my favourite war movie, “where eagles dare” around late seventies, in one of the smaller screens, presentation was terrible, the picture was dark, the sound was weak… I
m sure Mannie wasnt on that day……I attended the cinema just once, on Wednesday 11th August 1982 while on holiday in the area. That day, I saw a double-bill of ‘The Beyond’ and ‘Shock’ (I haven’t seen either of these on TV since then!)
I was a projectionist at the Apollo from 1974 until it’s closure in 1983.The chief projectionist was the late Mannie Moorhouse.We were both on duty for the final screenings.Friday 13th Part Three as you say in screen 1…I wish I could remember what was showing in cinemas 2 and 3 but time has eroded the memory.But it was a sad day…Mannie had been there since the 50’s,even during the ‘Bingo’ years.I will try and add some photos if possible.
I spent many happy hours in the Apollo as a child and teenager and I remember the Apollo before and after tripling. Went to the Saturday morning kids club and remember dancing on the original stage. I was lucky enough to see behind the scenes several times and after tripling it was still possible to see the original front stalls and proscenium hidden behind the false walls. I went to watch the last film on the last Sunday night before closure for old times sake, a double bill featuring Friday 13th Pt lll with My Bloody Valentine in screen 1.
A 1934 vintage photograph of the auditorium, soon after opening:
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The auditorium being re-built in 1955, after German bomb damage:
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The exterior in 1956 after re-opening:
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Photographed in 1967:
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