The eagerly-awaited 1950s cinema at Beamish Museum has now started to take shape along with new shops as the visitor attraction's ambitious new development project continues.
Work has finally started on the cinema site which is part of the museum's new 1950s Town, bringing a unique experience for visitors one step closer. The end result will be a recreation of The Grand Cinema from Ryhope in Sunderland which dates from that period and where visitors will be able to step back in time to enjoy a retro cinema outing.
Already they can book in for a 1950s hairdo at the town's salon opposite the cinema site where they can enjoy other period attractions such as John's Cafe, serving 'frothy coffee' and ice cream, and visit a chip shop, a recreation of artist Norman Cornish's house and a nearby fifties playground with a mini crazy golf course. Among those to watch work on the cinema get under way was Bill Mather, who was born in Ryhope and had worked as a trainee projectionist at The Grand from 1950 to 1955.
