Dreamland Cinema
Marine Terrace,
Margate,
CT9 1LX
Marine Terrace,
Margate,
CT9 1LX
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: County Cinemas Ltd., Reeltime Cinemas UK
Architects: W.F. Granger, Julian Rudolph Leathart
Firms: Leathart & Granger
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Dreamland Super Cinema, Dreamland Twin Cinemas
Nearby Theaters
Built on the the site of the 900 seat Dreamland Variety Theatre of 1923, which was later re-named Dreamland Cinema. It was adjacent to the massive Dreamland Amusement Park on Marine Terrace located on the sea front.
The new Dreamland Super Cinema opened on 22nd March 1935 with Greta Garbo in “The Painted Veil” & Laurel & Hardy in “Them Thar Hills”. Architect’s Julian Rudolph Leathart & W.F. Granger came together for the final time (they mutually dissolved their partnership after Dreamland was completed). The spectacular frontage of the cinema was the first of its kind in Britain, having a huge fin tower which gives the building prominence from a great distance along the shore line. There was a large café which had windows giving a view out to sea. Additional facilities included bars and a ballroom.
Inside the auditorium seating was provided for 1,328 in the stalls and 722 in the balcony. The interior design was by John Bird-Iles (son of the owner of the complex) and sculptures of sea nymphs set into recesses each side of the auditorium were the work of Eric Aumonier. The cinema had a fully equipped stage and has a 40ft wide proscenium. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system. There is a Compton-Noterman 4Manual/19Rank theatre organ with illuminated console and a grand piano attached which was opened by organist Lewis Gerard.
The cinema was closed from 1940 due to the war and didn’t re-open until 1st July 1946. The Dreamland Cinema was twinned and re-opened on 22nd April 1973 with two cinemas in the former balcony which seated 378 and 376. The former stalls area became a live theatre using the full facilities of the stage. However the live theatre was not a success and closed on 11th January 1975 and was converted into a bingo hall.
A third screen seating 60 persons and using video projection was created in what had previously been the balcony bar area. This opened on 10th May 1981 and continued until closing in 1993 when the Dutch firm Bembom Brothers took over the running of the cinema and amusement park.
It remained open with bingo in the former stalls, where the Compton organ was still occasionally used for concerts. The two cinemas remained open in the former circle area and were operated by the small Independent chain Reeltime Cinemas. Sadly they were closed on 1st November 2007 following closure of the bingo club operation in the former stalls area earlier in the year.
Restoration of the exterior was begun in February 2011, and repairs to the building began in earnest in June 2011. Restoration of the exterior was completed in summer of 2017 and yellow neon has been installed to highlight the building.
In 1992, Dreamland Cinema was designated a Grade II Listed building by English Heritage. In early-May 2008, the building was up-graded to Grade II* Listed.
In March 2022 planning permission was granted to remove the original ‘Dreamland’ signage from the exterior of the building for it to be temporarily replaced by the name ‘Empire’. This was due to the building being featured as a location for the filming of “Empire of Light” (a love story set in a seaside cinema) directed by Sam Mendes and starring Olivia Coleman & Colin Firth. Some scenes were also filmed in the interior where other small temporary changes were made. Filming was completed on 15th May 2022 and all original fittings and signage were fully re-installed. “Empire of Light” was released in the USA in December 2022 and in the UK on 6th January 2023.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
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.
Interior shows the organ (now silent, 2014) being played in May, 1998.
3New photos added 1. Original foyer 2. Sunshine Cafe 3. Dreamland cinema from the station end of the prom
The Foyer is about to be restored to its former glory along with the Sunshine cafe above. Restorers are looking to find traces of the original Walpole mural in the cafe.
Is the Dreamland Amusement Park still there(and operating), and is it Grade 11 listed as well?
The Dreamland Amusement Park re-opened in 2015. The Scenic Railway (roller coaster) is Listed Grade II and there may be another couple of rides listed. The Dreamland Cinema building is Grade II* Listed and the animal cages at the rear are Grade II Listed.
Lottery grant project – 2017 restoration update
The original lighting scheme has been suitably reinstated with both traditional glass neon tube and LED neon tube with LED uplighters all in original yellow and blue.
Sans serif reproduction letters have been reinstated on the fin replacing the 2012 restored 1970s replacement fittings. The brick bullnose has also finally been reinstated to the fin.
Also close to the original standard, both DREAMLAND and (1949 addition) DANCING letters of traditional glass neon tube upon metal cast sans serif letters have also been reinstated on west and east fascias of the fin at the top.
Reproduction metal letters closely replicating the original installations have been reinstated across the marquee fascia.
The original AMUSEMENT PARK and arrow fittings have not been reinstated on the west elevation above Hall by the Sea road as this was seen as an unnecessary advertisement that did not complement the original lighting scheme or building.
The travertine and glazed faience fascias have been completely uncovered from later dilapidated hoardings and repaired or reinstated or replaced.
The north elevation windows of the former Sunshine Cafe have been completely repaired and refitted to original standard but with double glazed panes. The west elevation that had been removed and very inappropriately bricked up has been reinstated with reproduction fittings to original standard and again fitted with double glazed panes.
Various other window fittings across the building as a whole have been reinstated or replaced with reproductions of the original standard.
The original bronze decorative doors have been reproduced and reinstated in both the foyer entrance and entrance to the former Sunshine Cafe. Reproductions of the original Public and Saloon bar entrances between their window displays are due to be installed at a later date. A commissioned Dreamland archive art piece has been installed in this elevation with a temporary glass exhibition facade fitted for this purpose.
A traditional cage gate in yellow is due to be fitted across the foyer entrance for security purposes. It has been given listed building consent for a period of 3 years unless an extension period is approved. This suggests that an operator for the former theatre/cinema auditorium is surely less viable into the short term future.
The foyer and booking concourse was due to be restored to original standard as part of the project funding, but appears to have been stalled.
Restoration of the former Sunshine Cafe space also remains in question, although all original access points have now been uncovered and restored throughout the building as a whole. This now includes the demolished connections to the pre-existing former ballroom building at the south of the site.
Removal of later Bingo hall operation fittings to the auditorium are due to begin shortly, uncovering the original proscenium and general original standard.
Unfortunately it is unlikely that the extended balcony and blockwork that was installed to split the cinema into multiscreen operation will ever be removed. This will prevent the original auditorium standard as a whole to be reinstated, with the damaged figurines on both sides to remain lost. The original safety curtain is also due to be be removed and disposed of due to regulations of asbestos control.
Grand opening ads from 1935 and 1973 posted.
“Empire of Light” has just opened in the UK and features some stunning photography of the interior, foyer and exterior. Also the projection box, but this may be a studio set. Looks genuine, though. Sadly the plot is pretty banal but if you can take your mind off it the visuals are very rewarding.
“Empire of Light” has just started streaming in the USA and possibly elsewhere on HBO Max. One of very few films in which a cinema is one of the main characters. Hard to believe that most of the interiors are just sets constructed for the production within the moldering remains of Dreamland.
Re: Empire of Light. From American Cinematographer - photos during production and descriptions of filming in and around the theatre on how Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins wanted to get the look they achieved.