The Royalty cinema, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne
Archive Collection
Watch videos in the Archive Collection for 30 days, for a one-time payment of £2.49. More information here.
The documentary
The most recent version of the documentary is this one which was put together in 2010 when, for the first time, it was possible to edit it using digital technology.
Last Reel at the Royalty
The main documentary. Visit Gosforth's Royalty cinema. Meet the staff and see behind the scenes. Presented here at a resolution of 640x480 at 50 frames per second (27 mins).
Unused video material
Out-takes and extra footage that didn't make it into the documentary.
Residents' meeting in mid-December 1981
The staff approached the Coxlodge and Grange Residents' Association and went to a meeting (31 mins 36 secs).
More finds in the pay box
Mrs Chappelhowe finds more bits and pieces in the cupboard in the pay box (2 mins 4 secs).
Mrs Chappelhowe in the stalls foyer
More of Mrs Mabel Chappelhowe in the stalls foyer and another story through the window of the pay box (4 mins 43 secs).
Exterior views, daytime
Exterior views, daytime (2 mins 20 secs).
John Tessa interview
Interview with projectionist John Tessa in the foyer of the circle (12 mins 52 secs).
Mrs Eastlake interview
More from the interview with manager Mrs Henrietta Eastlake in her office. Tip: always take the telephone off the hook when shooting an interview! An amusing out-take (6 mins 51 secs).
In the projection room
John Tessa with the projectors and unused material as he talks at his work bench (14 mins 5 secs).
Exteriors: the Globe and Royalty
The Globe and Royalty on a sunny day in spring (5 mins 17 secs).
Night exteriors, a cleaner, the auditorium
Outside the cinema at night, a cleaner and views inside the auditorium (3 mins 57 secs).
Exteriors: day and dusk
Shots of the Royalty and High Street and a mystery... (8 mins 17 secs).
Mrs Chappelhowe interview
Unused material from the interview with Mrs Mabel Chappelhowe in the stalls and a shot of her arriving (5 mins 5 secs).
Mrs Chappelhowe and Mrs Lockey
Mrs Chappelhowe and Mrs Lockey and a night exterior (3 mins 23 secs).
Audience arriving, curtains open, shots of the foyer
Opening the doors, customers arrive, the curtains open and the film starts, shots of the foyer (7 mins 38 secs).
Demolition in spring 1984
On Super 8 film. Filmed on two consecutive weekends.
The start of demolition
Outside shots (3 mins 26 secs).
The interior during demolition
Inside (3 mins 37 secs).
The final stages of demolition
Not much left (2 mins 46 secs).
Gosforth
Some other video clips of Gosforth.
Snow on the Great North Road
There was heavy snow during the filming of the documentary in December 1981 (2 mins 10 secs).
Schools and Regent Centre Metro
Seen here in summer 1981, the schools some of us went to and the Regent Centre Metro station which had opened just a few months earlier (1 min 34 secs).
Robinson's pet shop
We see manager Margaret Fox in Robinson's pet shop on the day before it closed in 1982. Customers had brought her flowers and gifts (5 mins 44 secs).
Granada camera test, spring 1981
Various shots taken between The Three Mile Bridge and Gosforth High Street, as a test of a video camera from Granada TV Rental (5 mins 49 secs).
The area around the Three Mile Bridge
Including Burnside Road, the demolition of the Three Mile Garage and the former Lawrenson's Nurseries, summer 1981 (4 mins 59 secs).
Moving stock for a charity shop, 1979
This Super 8 film gives a glimpse of the Gosforth shopping centre which was still under construction at the time and some long gone premises including Woolworths (1 min 3 secs).
Charity shop on Gosforth High Street
A charity shop next-door, to the left of, Thorpes hardware store, in autumn 1980. The premises were a former baker's shop (4 mins 58 secs).
Gosforth Gang Show 1980 - extract
The final three minutes. They sing Auld Lang Syne and the national anthem (2 min 56 secs).
Slideshows
Photographs presented as a slideshow on video.
Exclusive: cinemas in black and white
Most of these unpublished and unseen until now. Cinemas in Newcastle, Jesmond and Gosforth. Photographed on black and white film in 1980 and 1981 (3 mins 45 secs).
Watch videos in the Archive Collection for 30 days, for a one-time payment of £2.49. More information here.