New photo added. Still named Ritz but under ABC control.
Easter Parade showing, and exterior of the cinema decorated for the opening of the film – complete with military band.
Oxford Terrace was at the rear of the auditorium and still is! The Astoria did not stand on a corner site as it was built into the existing terrace of commercial properties and replaced a a high class tea room & restaurant run by a Carlo Maestrani which opened on the site in 1889.
The replacement Boot’s store is a pastiche of the former Astoria/Odeon with glazed tiles that look similar to the faience facade of the cinema including a canopy overhanging the entrance.
The Compton organ in the Palace came from the Empire Cinema Aldershot and has since been removed, current whereabouts is unknown and sadly may possibly have been broken up for spares or scrapped. The organ had little ‘voice’ and although when in the Empire Aldershot the acoustic quality of the auditorium was high the sound of the organ was always somewhat disappointing and did not ‘fill the space’ with sound. This was despite the pipe chambers being high in the auditorium above the proscenium – according to Len Rawle (who used to play the Compton whilst he was stationed in Aldershot during WW2).The Compton was in poor condition when Len used to play it regularly and was rarely maintained. The organ had no illuminated surround and appeared to be a fairly basic Compton with a church style console. When installed in the Empire Aldershot it was not on a lift but at floor level below the screen. The film on the EAFA website is I think the only recording of this Compton
When I lived in Folkestone it was known as Savoy bingo and then later became Rio bingo.The Standaart Organ was bought by a local cinema organ buff, Eric Hart, who installed it in his private house in Chart Road, Cheriton – an area of Folkestone.
The block of flats built on the site of the Ritz/Classic is Blythe Court and was named after the last manager of the Classic – Don Blythe who went on to serve as a Hythe town councillor and also served with me on Shepway District Council.
New photo added of the Alexandra Music Hall & Palace that sttid on the site before the more modern Alexandra Cinema replaced it.
I’m searching for some shots of the auditorium and will post if I find any.
The Windows in the side wall were never used. They were always totally blocked in and never had curtains.From inside the auditorium you would never have known there were large Windows. The Windows only became used when taken over by the Kings Church.
New photo added of cicinemtaken soon after opening 1924
New photo added 01/08/1930
Rare photo added of gala re-opening after the installation of sound 23/06/1930
New photo added. Still named Ritz but under ABC control. Easter Parade showing, and exterior of the cinema decorated for the opening of the film – complete with military band.
Photo of the restaurant that preceded the building of the Astoria Cinema, Folkestone added on the photo tab
Oxford Terrace was at the rear of the auditorium and still is! The Astoria did not stand on a corner site as it was built into the existing terrace of commercial properties and replaced a a high class tea room & restaurant run by a Carlo Maestrani which opened on the site in 1889. The replacement Boot’s store is a pastiche of the former Astoria/Odeon with glazed tiles that look similar to the faience facade of the cinema including a canopy overhanging the entrance.
The Compton organ in the Palace came from the Empire Cinema Aldershot and has since been removed, current whereabouts is unknown and sadly may possibly have been broken up for spares or scrapped. The organ had little ‘voice’ and although when in the Empire Aldershot the acoustic quality of the auditorium was high the sound of the organ was always somewhat disappointing and did not ‘fill the space’ with sound. This was despite the pipe chambers being high in the auditorium above the proscenium – according to Len Rawle (who used to play the Compton whilst he was stationed in Aldershot during WW2).The Compton was in poor condition when Len used to play it regularly and was rarely maintained. The organ had no illuminated surround and appeared to be a fairly basic Compton with a church style console. When installed in the Empire Aldershot it was not on a lift but at floor level below the screen. The film on the EAFA website is I think the only recording of this Compton
The end is neigh New photo added
Why would you just take the roof off?
New Photo added
When I lived in Folkestone it was known as Savoy bingo and then later became Rio bingo.The Standaart Organ was bought by a local cinema organ buff, Eric Hart, who installed it in his private house in Chart Road, Cheriton – an area of Folkestone.
The block of flats built on the site of the Ritz/Classic is Blythe Court and was named after the last manager of the Classic – Don Blythe who went on to serve as a Hythe town councillor and also served with me on Shepway District Council.
New photo added 1945
New photo added: closed and for sale but soon demolished 1960
1 more photo added
4 new photos added: Jimmy Hendrix, Roy Orbison, Jasper Bartwell at the Ritz Wurlitzer & pop show poster from 1960’s
3 New photos added
Newspaper advert for the Palace. All shows accompanied by the Palace Orchestra
Newspaper advert for the Empire added in photo section
Newspaper advert for the Pavilion along with the Alexandra Cinema both owned operated and built by County Cinemas
Newspaper advert for the Alexandra added in photo section
Another shot of the original Verity & Beverly designed auditorium in the photo section.
New photo added of the Alexandra Music Hall & Palace that sttid on the site before the more modern Alexandra Cinema replaced it. I’m searching for some shots of the auditorium and will post if I find any.
New photo added taken in 1931 1 year after opening
The Windows in the side wall were never used. They were always totally blocked in and never had curtains.From inside the auditorium you would never have known there were large Windows.
The Windows only became used when taken over by the Kings Church.