CREDITS ROLL AT HISTORIC OLD CINEMA.

THESE photographs are the last glimpse inside one of the region's bestloved cinemas before it is demolished to make way for a new retail and office development.

The historic Jesmond Picture House stopped the reels for the final time in 1993 after 70 years, and next month work is due to start tearing the old building down.

Before that happens the doors were opened for one final time for a last look around.

All the seats in the auditorium were removed long ago, leaving just the stage and a sloping floor.

Posters for 1990s films lie on the floor gathering dust.

Cinema tickets, reels of films and even refrigerated trays for serving ice cream are still there, reminders that the building used to play host to hundreds of people every week.

The old dome in the auditorium is long gone and holes in the roof have let in pigeons. Dead birds and droppings have created such a smell that face masks have to be worn at all times.

Sunil Mehra, of developers MK Partnership, who are transforming the site, said: "I used to visit the cinema as a child and I acknowledge that it has a great heritage, but this site will now be developed to meet the needs and demands of today."

CAPTION(S):

END OF THE SHOW: Ian Tew from Knight Frank in the projection room and, top, the cinema in its glory days