Beatles’ old haunt opens as Almeria Cinema Museum

ALMERIA – AN old farm house in Almeria, which was used in the sixties by celebrities such as John Lennon, has become the new cinema museum. Famous visitors included Peter O’Toole and Yul Brynner, and it was here that ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ was composed.

It was inaugurated by Almeria mayor, Luis Rogelio Rodriguez Comendador, and will tell the story of Almeria’s film industry. A commemorative plaque was unveiled by the mayor. He in turn received a plaque from the John Lennon Almeria Forever Association, thanking him for his support for the Beatles.

The museum has been designed to be interactive, and will eventually have a documentation centre, an events hall and a cafeteria. So far it has cost €5.9m, which have funded a reception and information hall, and areas with photos, videos and props from the directors and actors who worked in Almeria.

However some cinema fans have complained that there is no projection room, film archive, or video library.

The Casa del Cine will be open from Tuesday to Thursday from 10.30am to 2pm, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am to 2pm and from 5.30pm to 9pm. Entrance is €1.5, although it is less for youths and pensioners and children until six enter for free.

Picture Credit: http://theswingingsixties.tumblr.com