---
title: "Tyneside Cinema Mural Uncovered"
date: "2006-12-15"
tags: [peter-yates, murals, tyneside-cinema]
categories: [peter-yates, murals, tyneside-cinema]
author: Jolyon Yates
publisher: Jolyon Yates
image:
    src: blog/tyneside-cinema-mural-by-peter-yates-uncovered.jpg
    alt: Tyneside Cinema Mural by Peter Yates Uncovered, Newspaper cutting
    title: Tyneside Cinema Mural by Peter Yates Uncovered
---
Article, David Whetstone, [Newcastle Journal](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/ "Newcastle Chronicle Newspaper"), December 15th, 2006

**'Cinema's Classic Pictures see the Light'**

**Tyneside Cinema** article re. **Artist Peter Yates**, Newcastle upon Tyne

A NEWCASTLE cinema is giving up its precious secrets, the latest being a mural by one of the region's most **notable** architects.

It was in the 1970s that **Peter Yates** depicted a potted history of moving pictures on a wall at the **Tyneside Cinema**, Pilgrim Street.

The mural, starting with a **Victorian zoetrope machine** and ending with an **Andy Warhol-inspired portrait of Marilyn Monroe**, decorated the new **Club Cinema**.

When the upper cinema became the **Electra** the mural was covered - like many features which made the 1930s cinema one of the most beautiful in the country.

Now, as part of a **£6.5m revamp** to incorporate a new screen and enhanced facilities, the surviving treasures, including murals, mosaics, coloured plasterwork and stained glass, are returning to the light.

Builders working for development company Wates found **Peter Yates's mural** this week.

**Cyril Winskell**, of Jesmond, Newcastle, **conservation architect** on the project, was a friend of Mr Yates who died 20 years ago and has a photo of him working on the mural.

He said: *"Peter and Gordon Ryder established Ryder and Yates in Newcastle, (now known as RyderHKS), the best modern practitioners of architecture in the North-East since the war."*

They made waves by designing innovative buildings for the Gas Board in Killingworth and **Peter Yates** also designed **MEA House** and the **Salvation Army hostel** on City Road.

Mr Winskell said Peter was a **hero of the Blitz** - one of those who saved **St Paul's Cathedral** by kicking incendiary bombs off the roof - and later, having been called up, he took part in the **liberation of Paris**.

He saw a plaque on a house identifying it as the home of **famous painter Georges Braque**.

***"He knocked and Braque himself answered. Peter said 'Do you do painting lessons?' So he had lessons from Georges Braque in 1945."***

**Mr Winskell** said the mural would have to be removed but could be reinstalled as the backdrop to a cinema bar after being restored.

The Tyneside's screenings have temporarily moved to Gateshead Old Town Hall, and is **due to reopen in 2008**.


**David Whetstone**

The full series of 30 Peter Yates Giclée Art Prints are now available from the [**Peter Yates Print Shop**](https://www.peteryates.co.uk/print-shop/ "Peter Yates Arts Prints Available")