By the time of my visit, in September 2015, the auditoriums in the ‘upscale’ four-screen wing were playing regular releases only. The “upscale concession stand” John Fink mentions has been closed.
This well-maintained, independent multiplex offers excellent value for second-run films, with (in September 2015, when I visited) all seats, all shows only costing $4. (Higher prices are charged for first-run films.)
According to the chap working in the cinema during my visit, in September 2015, the building was originally a church. It became the Draught House in 1983 and currently has 280 seats.
In addition to the two screens there is also The Silver Room, a flexible space, with a drop-down screen, that is available for private hire. Judging by my visit, on Friday 4th September 2015, the operators are certainly making the most of the two permanent screens, with shows starting at about 10am (“Gemma Bovary”, the film I saw, started at 10.30am) and seven different films playing that day alone.
In July 2015, when I visited, the two cinema screens seated 41 (Screen 1) and 111 (Screen 2). Screen 3 (328 seats) is also known as the Hawthorne Theatre. For film shows it is mainly used for the NT Live ‘event’ presentations.
In early 2015 a second Pinewood Cinema opened, in the Korda Theatre (a post production facility) at Shepperton Studios (owned by Pinewood Studios Group). As with the Pinewood Cinema, tickets are only available on-line. The cinema at Shepperton is only opened to the public on Sundays.
On my visit in August 2015 I was told the seating capacities of the three screens are: Screen 1: 106, Screen 2: 86 and Screen 3: 53. A total of 245 seats.
According to Martin Tapsell’s ‘Memories of Kent Cinemas’ the Pavilion was constructed in a former dance hall situated between Buckhurst House and the Ship Inn. No address is provided, but the Ship is at 83 High Street. Indeed, it was the proprietor of that inn, Harry Merritt, who started the Pavilion cinema. Later, it was run by D. Paine, son of Thomas Paine, the Lydd Cinema proprietor. A closure date for the Pavilion is not provided. In the book there is a photograph captioned as being of the Pavilion. However, it has since been revealed that this was not the Pavilion: it was a later Cinema that opened in the former Assembly Rooms on Church Approach.
By chance I visited the site on Sunday 25th July 1999, by which time the ABC had closed (see my photograph). So, rather than closing on the 29th, as stated above, perhaps it closed a week earlier, on the 22nd.
Further to Ken’s comments above, this cinema was open at least until April 1999, when I saw “Lulu on the Bridge”, starring Harvey Keitel and Mira Sorvino. See the advertising display in my photograph.
According to the chap in the box office during my visit in June 2015, the “Cinema” (the original screen) opened in 1958, followed by the two smaller screens (the “Studio” and the “Petit”) in 1974. He gave the capacities as Cinema: 220, Studio: 115 and Petit: 63 seats.
The Cinema is under the same management as the Harmonie.
The Gloria continues as a single screen cinema. The Gloriette occupies space in a building at the back of the Gloria, reached by an alleyway running alongside the original cinema.
The Pali is one of four cinemas operated by Kinopolis under their Citydome brand in Darmstadt. The other three are situated in and around a small shopping precinct across the town centre: the Festival mainly shows films in their original language, the Rex is the ‘art-house’ cinema while the six screen Helia is the ‘mainstream’ multiplex.
The Rex is one of three cinemas, operated by Kinopolis under their Citydome brand, in a small shopping precinct in the centre of the town. The Rex is the ‘art-house’ cinema (hence the auditoriums are named, rather than numbered), the Festival mainly shows films in their original language while the six screen Helia is the ‘mainstream’ multiplex. During a visit in June 2015 I was warmly welcomed by a member of staff from the Helia who opened up the Rex so I could have a look round (this was in the afternoon; the Rex opens in the early evening). The ‘geography’ of the building was hard to follow, but it didn’t appear as if the original cinema had been sub-divided to create the four screen, as the ‘Rex’ appears to be the full, original space. The opening date of the original Rex is thought to be the 1950s, or possibly earlier.
There seems to be some doubt as to whether the Wetherspoon pub occupies any of the former cinema space. The cinema entrance was to the left of the pub (where Mello Mello Bar is in my photo) and the auditorium presumably stood behind all these street-fronting buildings. So what part of the cinema does the pub occupy? Interestingly, at the rear, there’s what seems to be a derelict backstage area (see my photos), sitting all alone! Was this part of the cinema?? Any thoughts and comments would be most welcome!
By the time of my visit, in September 2015, the auditoriums in the ‘upscale’ four-screen wing were playing regular releases only. The “upscale concession stand” John Fink mentions has been closed.
This well-maintained, independent multiplex offers excellent value for second-run films, with (in September 2015, when I visited) all seats, all shows only costing $4. (Higher prices are charged for first-run films.)
According to the chap working in the cinema during my visit, in September 2015, the building was originally a church. It became the Draught House in 1983 and currently has 280 seats.
In addition to the two screens there is also The Silver Room, a flexible space, with a drop-down screen, that is available for private hire. Judging by my visit, on Friday 4th September 2015, the operators are certainly making the most of the two permanent screens, with shows starting at about 10am (“Gemma Bovary”, the film I saw, started at 10.30am) and seven different films playing that day alone.
In July 2015, when I visited, the two cinema screens seated 41 (Screen 1) and 111 (Screen 2). Screen 3 (328 seats) is also known as the Hawthorne Theatre. For film shows it is mainly used for the NT Live ‘event’ presentations.
In early 2015 a second Pinewood Cinema opened, in the Korda Theatre (a post production facility) at Shepperton Studios (owned by Pinewood Studios Group). As with the Pinewood Cinema, tickets are only available on-line. The cinema at Shepperton is only opened to the public on Sundays.
On my visit in August 2015 I was told the seating capacities of the three screens are: Screen 1: 106, Screen 2: 86 and Screen 3: 53. A total of 245 seats.
According to Martin Tapsell’s ‘Memories of Kent Cinemas’ the Pavilion was constructed in a former dance hall situated between Buckhurst House and the Ship Inn. No address is provided, but the Ship is at 83 High Street. Indeed, it was the proprietor of that inn, Harry Merritt, who started the Pavilion cinema. Later, it was run by D. Paine, son of Thomas Paine, the Lydd Cinema proprietor. A closure date for the Pavilion is not provided. In the book there is a photograph captioned as being of the Pavilion. However, it has since been revealed that this was not the Pavilion: it was a later Cinema that opened in the former Assembly Rooms on Church Approach.
This was the only UK cinema built and operated by Hoyts (their other UK build, at Wood Green in north London, opened as part of the Showcase circuit).
By chance I visited the site on Sunday 25th July 1999, by which time the ABC had closed (see my photograph). So, rather than closing on the 29th, as stated above, perhaps it closed a week earlier, on the 22nd.
As can be seen from Street View (above), the Grand has been demolished. A Travelodge hotel stands on the site.
As can be seen from my photographs, the Regal was completely derelict when the CTA visited in April 1999.
When I visited in April 1999 the cinema was called the Camera im Tacheles in advertising material, although this name did not appear on the exterior.
Further to Ken’s comments above, this cinema was open at least until April 1999, when I saw “Lulu on the Bridge”, starring Harvey Keitel and Mira Sorvino. See the advertising display in my photograph.
This is Screen 3.
Screen 3.
The Harmonie is under the same management as the city centre based Cinema.
According to the chap in the box office during my visit in June 2015, the “Cinema” (the original screen) opened in 1958, followed by the two smaller screens (the “Studio” and the “Petit”) in 1974. He gave the capacities as Cinema: 220, Studio: 115 and Petit: 63 seats.
The Cinema is under the same management as the Harmonie.
The Gloria continues as a single screen cinema. The Gloriette occupies space in a building at the back of the Gloria, reached by an alleyway running alongside the original cinema.
The Pali is one of four cinemas operated by Kinopolis under their Citydome brand in Darmstadt. The other three are situated in and around a small shopping precinct across the town centre: the Festival mainly shows films in their original language, the Rex is the ‘art-house’ cinema while the six screen Helia is the ‘mainstream’ multiplex.
The Rex is one of three cinemas, operated by Kinopolis under their Citydome brand, in a small shopping precinct in the centre of the town. The Rex is the ‘art-house’ cinema (hence the auditoriums are named, rather than numbered), the Festival mainly shows films in their original language while the six screen Helia is the ‘mainstream’ multiplex. During a visit in June 2015 I was warmly welcomed by a member of staff from the Helia who opened up the Rex so I could have a look round (this was in the afternoon; the Rex opens in the early evening). The ‘geography’ of the building was hard to follow, but it didn’t appear as if the original cinema had been sub-divided to create the four screen, as the ‘Rex’ appears to be the full, original space. The opening date of the original Rex is thought to be the 1950s, or possibly earlier.
This multiplex opened as CinemaxX.
On a visit in April 2015 I confirmed that the Carlton has been demolished. A block of flats stands on the site.
Sadly, on my visit in June 2015 the Regal was very firmly boarded up.
There seems to be some doubt as to whether the Wetherspoon pub occupies any of the former cinema space. The cinema entrance was to the left of the pub (where Mello Mello Bar is in my photo) and the auditorium presumably stood behind all these street-fronting buildings. So what part of the cinema does the pub occupy? Interestingly, at the rear, there’s what seems to be a derelict backstage area (see my photos), sitting all alone! Was this part of the cinema?? Any thoughts and comments would be most welcome!