Monday 1 June 2015

Bea Watchful

It’s always exciting to have a shout-out from an editor. My article in The People’s Friend on 6th June has been singled out for such an honour.

It is a nostalgia piece about newsreel cinemas. In my childhood, a visit to the pictures on a Saturday morning was essential. Before the main film came the British Pathe News. At the time I no doubt declared such an interruption to my viewing pleasure boring, but now I am surprised at how much the newsreels remain in my memory.

In fact British Pathe News and Gaumont News has become part of our collective memory. Any documentary of historical events will feature such extracts. In Newcastle upon Tyne we are fortunate to have the Tyneside Cinema which features a free daily screening of archived film. If you’re in the area, do make time for a visit. It is a fascinating piece of history.

Do you remember watching newsreel screenings at your local cinema?

2 comments:

  1. I don't think I ever saw any - but it was rare for me to go to the pictures.

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    1. Ah, but you're so much younger than me, Patsy. Saturday morning pictures were part of my childhood.

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