The frighteningly large collection of scary films which graced the South Tyneside cinemas in the 1970s
‘Tell us about the best films you saw at the cinemas of South Tyneside in the 1970s’
There was no fear of being short of horror movies in 1970s South Tyneside.
The borough was inundated with them at the cinemas and it meant some of the most famous names of the big screen were on our doorsteps.
We wonder how many of these films you watched through your fingers.
The decade got under way with two of the biggest stars teaming up for only the second time in a film.
Scream And Scream Again was a 1970-made conspiracy thriller with Vincent Price and Christopher Lee among the cast at the ABC. It was on a double bill with Hells Angels 69.
In 1971, there was a quadruple bill on at the ABC but it did come with a warning - ‘you dare not come alone!’
The four-strong line-up was Lust For A Vampire, Cry Of The Banshee, The Losers and Count Yorga, Vampire, pictured below.
In 1979, Damien Thorn, the Antichrist was back, and looking for revenge in the film Damien: Omen II which was showing at the Focus cinema in South Shields.
Directed by Don Taylor, the film featured one of the final roles to be played by Oscar-winning William Holden, in this follow-up to the original Omen movie, made in 1976.
Once again, movie goers were given a warning and this one said ‘you will experience a new dimension of fear’.
Warlords of Atlantis was a 1978 British sci-fi film about a trip to the lost world of Atlantis. It came with a blurb which said ‘An incredible tale of terror and suspense ... above and below the sea.’
The movie was directed by Kevin Connor from a screenplay by Brian Hayles.
The film was also released under the title Warlords of the Deep. It was being screened at the Crown Cinema in Jarrow.
Tell us about the best films you saw at the cinemas of South Tyneside in the 1970s, whether it was horror, comedy, sci-fi or some other genre.
Re-live the cinema experience of the era once more and describe the atmosphere, decor and pre-film highlights of a trip to the pictured back then.
Tell us more by emailing [email protected]