In addition to what I wrote yesterday, I also remember that the tabs were electric, but the cinemascope masking was not. It was opened manually by a handle on the left hand side of the stage next to the ice cream freezer. It was the job of whoever was selling the ice creams to open it when we had a cinemascope film showing. As the tabs were closed when it was done it wasn’t noticeable to the audience. But, when the tabs weren’t working that was a different matter entirely. Sometimes the ice cream lady would forget to open the masking and, when we started the show, the tabs opened to reveal the screen still on widescreen. I remember once running out of the box, down the isle and opening the masking when this happened and there were loud cheers and handclaps from the audience!
The job I had at the Rex was actually my first taste of paid work. I did two nights a week whilst I was at college. I found some old photographs the other day of me as a young teenager (taken in 2001) at work in the projection room. The machines in the photos are the Kalee-18s. On one of them there is an excellent view of all the controls and, despite not having been near a projector for more than 20 years, I could remember what they all did! Referring to the comments I posted back in 2009, with the Kalee’s the reels were taken downstairs to the rewind room and rewound by hand on the bench after each changeover. I would then replace them in the rack and lace up the next one onto the machine. It was a fast paced job and you were literally on the go from the minute you started the show until the end. When the Ernemann’s came, it made life easier but the job became boring since you had very little to do for an hour until the changeover had to be done. I also remember that at the end of the night, the projectionist would leave the second reel for whoever was on duty the following night to rewind to give that person something extra to do.
Reeltime Cinemas subsequently went into administration. However, cinema fans will be pleased to know that two of the cinemas in this part of south-east England, which were managed by that company have survived. They are;
The Carlton – Westgate-On-Sea
Kavanagh – Herne Bay
Sadly the New Century Cinema at Sittingbourne closed along with the Dreamland.
The company who now owns the Carlton is Westgate Investment. I paid a visit to the cinema a few weeks back and it really is a lovely venue. I watched The Wolfman starring Anthony Hopkins in the intimate 32-seat Bijou Screen, which was added to the site along with the 56-seat Century Screen in 1998 by Reeltime Cinemas. The Carlton was that company’s first cinema, which was acquired by their Managing Director, Mike Vickers, in about 1977. I had a chat with the staff while I was there who told me that business is slowly starting to pick up again but one of the problems is a lot of people think that the Carlton is still closed but it is well and truly open and it deserves the public’s support.
The Picturedrome’s second screen, which was situated in the upstairs hall opened on 17 August 1984 when it was owned by the Cannon Classic chain. INDIANA JONES & THE TEMPLE OF DOOM was showing in the main screen and STAR TREK 2 was showing in the new smaller screen.
Leo Leisure Ltd a family owned business who run the Bingo club in the former stalls area of the cinema are to take on the running of the Commodore’s three screens.
Scott Cinemas are planning to convert the former boiler house, which still has the two boilers that used to heat the auditorium, into the Central’s fifth screen.
The original 1938 Orpheus art-deco cinema was designed by architect Alec French. The actual opening date for the site was 16 February 1938 with the Lord Mayor performing the opening ceremony. The first film was “Lost Horizon” starring Ronald Coleman.
The future of the ABC and the Odeon (both situated in Westover Road) is in question (and has been for several years now) since plans for a £17 million leisure complex on the former bus station site in Exeter Road looks set to go ahead. The complex will include a nine-screen multiplex cinema, which will be operated by Odeon who own both sites on Westover Road. If the multiplex goes ahead the Odeon and ABC will most certainly close down.
The operating company who owned the Commodore has gone into administration and the future of this cinema is now in question. At present it continues to trade as the administrators have been keeping it open and according to a local press report, a sale has been agreed but let’s hope it is somebody stepping in to keep the cinema open.
The Plaza Cinema reopened as a twin screen cinema on 26 January 1975. The films shown were THE STING and the James Bond film, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.
The projector used at the Lighthouse Cinema is a Westar 2000, which was reconditioned when the old Poole Arts Cinema closed (this area of the building is now occupied by a gallery) for use in the new cinema.
I am sad to have to inform you all that Reeltime Cinemas Ltd who operate the Kavanagh have gone into administration so the cinema’s future could be on the line along with the Carlton over at Westgate if a buyer cannot be found.
I am sad to report that Reeltime Cinemas Ltd has gone into administration and the future of the Carlton is now hanging in the balance. It could close down unless a buyer is found, let’s hope that somebody steps in to keep it open and save this historic cinema.
I am sad to relate that the New Century Cinema has now closed down. It played its final film on Thursday 26 February 2009. The cinema was closed due to dwindling attendances.
The new owners of the Picturedrome also acquired the Plaza Cinema in Dorchester at the end of 2008 another cinema which was formerly owned and operated by the Kent based Reeltime Cinemas.
The opening programme at Bournemouth’s Tatler cinema club when opened on the 19 July 1971 was a double-bill featuring Hot Spur and The Tale Of The Dean’s Wife.
The projectors used at this cinema were a pair of Kalee-20’s, which were apparently bought from a cinema in Frome.
To become a member of the Tatler Cinema Club, you had to be eighteen or over and the price of a year’s membership back in 1971 was £1.00. The prices of admission were usually 50p but there was also a 25p concession price for guests and senior citizens.
The Tatler operated seven days a week usually open from 12:30pm to 10:30pm but opened later at 2:30pm on Sundays.
In addition to what I wrote yesterday, I also remember that the tabs were electric, but the cinemascope masking was not. It was opened manually by a handle on the left hand side of the stage next to the ice cream freezer. It was the job of whoever was selling the ice creams to open it when we had a cinemascope film showing. As the tabs were closed when it was done it wasn’t noticeable to the audience. But, when the tabs weren’t working that was a different matter entirely. Sometimes the ice cream lady would forget to open the masking and, when we started the show, the tabs opened to reveal the screen still on widescreen. I remember once running out of the box, down the isle and opening the masking when this happened and there were loud cheers and handclaps from the audience!
The job I had at the Rex was actually my first taste of paid work. I did two nights a week whilst I was at college. I found some old photographs the other day of me as a young teenager (taken in 2001) at work in the projection room. The machines in the photos are the Kalee-18s. On one of them there is an excellent view of all the controls and, despite not having been near a projector for more than 20 years, I could remember what they all did! Referring to the comments I posted back in 2009, with the Kalee’s the reels were taken downstairs to the rewind room and rewound by hand on the bench after each changeover. I would then replace them in the rack and lace up the next one onto the machine. It was a fast paced job and you were literally on the go from the minute you started the show until the end. When the Ernemann’s came, it made life easier but the job became boring since you had very little to do for an hour until the changeover had to be done. I also remember that at the end of the night, the projectionist would leave the second reel for whoever was on duty the following night to rewind to give that person something extra to do.
On checking the cinema’s webiste again, the main screen (Premiere) is now back in operation.
On checking the cinema’s website, it appears that the Premiere Screen (the largest) is currently out of action and undergoing repairs.
It is good that investment has gone into the Plaza. I hope it survives the competition from the Old Brewery site when it opens.
There are plans in the pipeline to convert the New Century Cinema building into a night club.
Reeltime Cinemas subsequently went into administration. However, cinema fans will be pleased to know that two of the cinemas in this part of south-east England, which were managed by that company have survived. They are;
Sadly the New Century Cinema at Sittingbourne closed along with the Dreamland.
Loved the images from ‘28 Days Later’ – cheers!
The company who now owns the Carlton is Westgate Investment. I paid a visit to the cinema a few weeks back and it really is a lovely venue. I watched The Wolfman starring Anthony Hopkins in the intimate 32-seat Bijou Screen, which was added to the site along with the 56-seat Century Screen in 1998 by Reeltime Cinemas. The Carlton was that company’s first cinema, which was acquired by their Managing Director, Mike Vickers, in about 1977. I had a chat with the staff while I was there who told me that business is slowly starting to pick up again but one of the problems is a lot of people think that the Carlton is still closed but it is well and truly open and it deserves the public’s support.
The Commodore has a website;
www.leoleisurecommodore.co.uk
The Picturedrome’s second screen, which was situated in the upstairs hall opened on 17 August 1984 when it was owned by the Cannon Classic chain. INDIANA JONES & THE TEMPLE OF DOOM was showing in the main screen and STAR TREK 2 was showing in the new smaller screen.
Westgate’s Carlton Cinema has now been reopened under new management.
The Kavanagh now seems to have changed hands. On checking the venue’s website, the company running it calls itself RSJ Cinemas.
Leo Leisure Ltd a family owned business who run the Bingo club in the former stalls area of the cinema are to take on the running of the Commodore’s three screens.
Scott Cinemas are planning to convert the former boiler house, which still has the two boilers that used to heat the auditorium, into the Central’s fifth screen.
The original 1938 Orpheus art-deco cinema was designed by architect Alec French. The actual opening date for the site was 16 February 1938 with the Lord Mayor performing the opening ceremony. The first film was “Lost Horizon” starring Ronald Coleman.
The future of the ABC and the Odeon (both situated in Westover Road) is in question (and has been for several years now) since plans for a £17 million leisure complex on the former bus station site in Exeter Road looks set to go ahead. The complex will include a nine-screen multiplex cinema, which will be operated by Odeon who own both sites on Westover Road. If the multiplex goes ahead the Odeon and ABC will most certainly close down.
The operating company who owned the Commodore has gone into administration and the future of this cinema is now in question. At present it continues to trade as the administrators have been keeping it open and according to a local press report, a sale has been agreed but let’s hope it is somebody stepping in to keep the cinema open.
The Plaza Cinema reopened as a twin screen cinema on 26 January 1975. The films shown were THE STING and the James Bond film, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.
The projector used at the Lighthouse Cinema is a Westar 2000, which was reconditioned when the old Poole Arts Cinema closed (this area of the building is now occupied by a gallery) for use in the new cinema.
I am sad to have to inform you all that Reeltime Cinemas Ltd who operate the Kavanagh have gone into administration so the cinema’s future could be on the line along with the Carlton over at Westgate if a buyer cannot be found.
I am sad to report that Reeltime Cinemas Ltd has gone into administration and the future of the Carlton is now hanging in the balance. It could close down unless a buyer is found, let’s hope that somebody steps in to keep it open and save this historic cinema.
I am sad to relate that the New Century Cinema has now closed down. It played its final film on Thursday 26 February 2009. The cinema was closed due to dwindling attendances.
The new owners of the Picturedrome also acquired the Plaza Cinema in Dorchester at the end of 2008 another cinema which was formerly owned and operated by the Kent based Reeltime Cinemas.
The opening programme at Bournemouth’s Tatler cinema club when opened on the 19 July 1971 was a double-bill featuring Hot Spur and The Tale Of The Dean’s Wife.
The projectors used at this cinema were a pair of Kalee-20’s, which were apparently bought from a cinema in Frome.
To become a member of the Tatler Cinema Club, you had to be eighteen or over and the price of a year’s membership back in 1971 was £1.00. The prices of admission were usually 50p but there was also a 25p concession price for guests and senior citizens.
The Tatler operated seven days a week usually open from 12:30pm to 10:30pm but opened later at 2:30pm on Sundays.