"Fancy Going To The Flicks ? Take A Trip To The Empire Cinema, Sandwich, Kent."

Fancy going to "The Flicks" ?

Take a trip to The Empire Cinema, Sandwich, Kent.

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Illustration: PINTEREST

The following Text is from THE EMPIRE CINEMA, SANDWICH, KENT

On 26 June, 1937, The Empire Cinema, in Sandwich, Kent, opened its doors for the first time. The films chosen for the original opening performance were "TRUST THE NAVY" starring Lupino Lane and "CRAIG'S WIFE" starring Rosalind Russell as well as a coloured rhapsody, plus The Gaumont British News.

The Cinema was described as a modern, up-to-date, and luxurious building, situated in a prominent position near to The Guildhall, Sandwich, in the centre of the Town. The auditorium was of spacious design seating 600 people in total in The Circle and Stalls areas.

The Empire Cinema,

Sandwich, Kent.

Illustration: EMPIRE CINEMA

Now, the Cinema, which re-opened in 1993, is operational in the former Circle section of the building and has still retained The Art Deco architecture and can accommodate 130 people. The auditorium has been completely re-seated with more comfortable and luxurious seats and the original decorative neon lighting has been restored to the frontage of the Theatre.

The latest digital projection equipment has been installed with Dolby Digital Sound. This will now enable the Cinema to obtain and screen the latest Film Releases in this new improved format. In addition, it is planned to present cultural Live Shows of Opera, Ballet and Theatre content on a regular basis in 2014. The arrival of Digital Cinema will provide our audience with a wide choice of entertainment with the added enjoyment of enhanced viewing.

The Lounge section is situated in the original Stalls area and has been refurbished with comfortable chairs and tables and a maple dance floor installed in front of the Cinema Stage. A Fully Licensed Bar is now available in The Lounge. A popular attraction in this area has been the monthly Classic Cinema presentations.

Visit this unique attractive Art Deco Cinema and enjoy the best in film entertainment in comfort and pleasant surroundings. There is a large car park nearby with no evening charges and seats are bookable for all performances.

For programme information and seat reservations, please phone 01304 620480.

The Empire Cinema, Sandwich, Kent, Web-Site is HERE.

"Fancy Going To The Flicks ?"

The Ritz Cinema,

Barnsley, Yorkshire.

Classic Art-Deco Design.

1937.

Illustration: VINTAGE EVERYDAY

The Ritz Cinema,

Barnsley.

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/Zv9vodalvEs

The Ritz Cinema was built for the Union Cinemas chain and was designed by the architectural firm Verity and Beverley, who were assisted by Union’s ‘in-house’ architect Ernest F. Tulley.

Union opened the Ritz Cinema on 22 March 1937 (the same day as their Ritz Cinema, Chatham, Kent). The opening film was William Powell in “My Man Godfrey”. The facade was of white stone and had a stepped outline. At night, it was quite spectacular as it was covered with many bands of neon tube lighting, as well as having the RITZ name located on a double-sided vertical sign and the name UNION CINEMAS mounted in large illuminated letters on top.

It was a spacious and lavishly-designed Cinema which was well equipped with a large Stage and many Dressing Rooms. It held the distinction of being the 2,000th Cinema in The U.K. to be equipped with the Western Electric Sound System, and a plaque was mounted on the foyer wall to commemorate this.

The Wurlitzer 3Manual/7Rank Theatre Organ was not ready for the opening, and had its own special opening on 26 April 1937, when H. Robinson Cleaver played on the console, which was on a lift, was illuminated, and had a Grand Piano attached. The longest-serving Resident Organist at The Ritz was Trevor Willetts, who played from 1943 until 1962. The Organ was removed in 1969, when it was sold to a private buyer.

In October 1937, Union Cinemas were taken over by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) and The Ritz was later (in 1961) re-named ABC. It closed on 16 March 1974, with Reg Varney, in “Holiday on the Buses”, as the last film. The Cinema was subsequently demolished.

Text contributed by Ken Roe to CINEMA TREASURES

The Ritz Cinema,

Barnsley.

Viewing: Photo | Street View

The following Text is from THE BARNSLEY CHRONICLE

Historic Ritz "Wurlitzer" found.

BY KATH PARKIN, MEMORIES FRIDAY 14 MARCH 2014.

A Wurlitzer Organ, which entertained thousands of patrons at the former Ritz Cinema, has been found - more than half-a-Century after it was last seen in Barnsley.

The Ritz Cinema, on Peel Street, Barnsley, closed in 1974, but the Organ was removed beforehand, in 1965.

Brian Hague, who grew up in Barnsley, but now lives at Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey, was invited to become an ABC Monitor, at the Ritz Cinema, when he was a pupil at Barnsley Grammar School in the mid-1940s.

As a 'Monitor', his job was to help control queues of young children at the ABC Minors' Saturday Morning Shows.

Brian Hague, reunited with the Wurlitzer Organ after sixty years.

Illustration: THE BARNSLEY CHRONICLE

"It was a great time and my affinity with the Ritz Cinema and the Wurlitzer Organ has remained until today," he said. "What sadness I experienced when, on one of my annual visits to Barnsley, I discovered the Ritz had been demolished."

For many years he tried find out what happened to the Organ, without success, but a chance conversation, with another Organ enthusiast, led to the revelation that the man was actually restoring the same Organ in his back garden in Brentford, South London.

Keen Pianist, Brian, said: "He invited me to go to his house to view the Organ. We had a very happy evening and I was able to play a tune on it.

"It was my birthday and I was able to celebrate a reunion with a very old friend I had not seen, or heard of, for nearly sixty years.

"When I played the Organ, it gave me goose pimples, it was just wonderful."