Brilliant old film footage shot across region
IT’S 90 years since Newcastle ACA (Amateur Cinematographers’ Association) shot their first film.
To help celebrate their anniversary, the group of enthusiasts has been kindly sharing some of their work with us.
We reach part three of our fortnightly series with a video feature titled Memories.
The five minutes of brilliant footage kicks off with a Tyneside street party celebrating the accession of the ill-fated Edward VIII in 1936.
Then, in film captured between the 1940 and 1960s, we stop off at locations including Alnwick, Craster, Dunstanborough, Tynemouth, Marsden, Durham, Seaburn, Roker, finally ending up at the shipyards and piers of the River Wear.
Meanwhile, Walter Clark, President of Newcastle ACA, recalls his lifelong interest in film.
He writes: “I have always had a deep interest in the cinema. Looking back at the 1950s and 60s I well remember standing in huge queues at the Odeon or Haymarket in rain, wind or snow, impatiently waiting to move up the queue and into the warmth of the cinema and hopefully see an exciting film.
“I was determined to have a film camera, going to Turner’s in Pink Lane. The person who sold it to me said he was a member of Newcastle Amateur Cinematographers’ Association. They made films, showed them on a big screen and held film competitions. They met every Tuesday at 7.30. So began my lifelong membership with the ACA.
“Walking down the dark back lane to get to the premises - it was situated above Balmbra’s Music Hall - I climbed the rickety stairs into the cinema and was amazed. The room was ideal for showing films, quite large with proper cinema tip-up seats and a professional looking projection box. There must have been 80 members
“The then secretary of the club was George Cummin - a prolific filmmaker who produced many club epics. I was asked to assist with the latest production probably holding a clapperboard. Well you have to start at the bottom!
“Shooting continued until daylight faded. Cameras in those days needed decent lighting so we always hoped for decent weather but not too bright sunshine - again
camera man John Sivell has footage of the demolition of various well known buildings in Newcastle, plus of course shots of the regeneration in the area. All good for the archives.
“On the lighter side of filmmaking, I remember getting a small cast together many years ago to make a medieval comedy. I had obtained permission from Lambton Castle. We were asked to finish by 2pm as the public would then have access. Resplendent in costume, swords at the ready, we put all our acting skills into the sword fight, the finale showing the villain being run through and dying dramatically. As the scene ended we heard a tumultuous roar of applause from the battlements from a crowd of early visitors. We took a bow! “Our club has changed with the passage of time. We have moved with and kept up with technology and this has brought some amazing changes in both our film making and standard of presentation at the club.”
Newcastle ACA is always on the lookout for new members. ■■Newcastle ACA meets on Tuesday evenings, 7.30pm, at the West Denton Association, Hillhead Road, West Denton. NE5 1DN. Tel 07582486082. ■■Visit the group’s website: www. newcastleaca.co.uk and you can follow them on Facebook. ■■Check out the video on our website www.chroniclelive.co.uk