The Kent History Forum

Leisure, Sport and Entertainment => Cinemas => Topic started by: castle261 on October 01, 2019, 07:25:20 PM

Title: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: castle261 on October 01, 2019, 07:25:20 PM
I remember the Ritz and the Regent being built in the 1938 era. The Ritz had a very plush carpet,
your feet really sunk in to it. + the Organ + the ice cream girls. I thought the Ritz was tops,
then the Majestic, then the Regent, the Palace seating was very far from the screen. the other
small cinema`s, the Invicta, the Grand, the National, the Odeon were ok, but when you think we
had all those cinema`s in Medway ---------- we were spoilt for choice.
Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: pr1uk on October 07, 2019, 07:32:50 AM
I remember the Ritz and Regent they were posh and expensive 1/3 that's one shilling and three pence whereas the Empire was 9 pence but back then cinema was a treat.
Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: shoot999 on October 07, 2019, 08:18:29 AM

A brief video of the Majestic Rochester

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBZ7oWmfuo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBZ7oWmfuo)


This was one of my 'patches' as a kid in the 50s. Meeting place on the steps when it was  raining, penny for the guy spot, and of course Saturday morning pictures.
Come the 60s and it was pop concerts and courting. Best spot was at the back at the side of the pillars. You could hear the usherette/manager coming long before they could see you :)



Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: AlanTH on October 07, 2019, 10:11:06 AM
Wasn't this the old Gaumont just along from Star Hill? If so when was it's name changed?
AlanTh.
Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: shoot999 on October 07, 2019, 01:53:33 PM
No idea of the exact dates but it was the Majestic from opening in 1935, the Gaumont  1950s?, and then later the Odeon. (A number of pop tour dates show it as the Odeon in early 60s).  Demolished in 1987.
Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: Smiffy on October 07, 2019, 05:27:03 PM
I think it might be better to keep each cinema in its own thread to make it easier for searching - perhaps we should have one for the Majestic/Gaumont?
Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: shoot999 on October 08, 2019, 11:19:15 AM
I think it might be better to keep each cinema in its own thread to make it easier for searching - perhaps we should have one for the Majestic/Gaumont?


To be fair, although the thread says Ritz and Regent the OP is about cinemas in the Medway Towns in general. On the wider issue of threads I do find it a difficult one, although I understand the logic of one thread one subject, it does tend to stifle the social history side of the debate. I remember a good thread on peoples experiences in the 60s of various  boutiques; but we were informed each boutique must have its own separate thread. Pretty much killed that debate.


Just wondering. Can an OP change their thread title if for whatever reason the thread grows to encompasses wider issues?
Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: Smiffy on October 08, 2019, 11:50:10 AM
I think you might be able to alter the thread title if you started it, I don't know for sure. Admin certainly could - perhaps renaming it "Medway Cinemas" would be better, I think it depends on how Stuart wants to organise the forum. I do have to agree though that sometimes the old forum could be a bit over the top with this sort of thing.
 
Having said that, the Majestic was renamed The Gaumont in 1962 :)


Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: Local Hiker on October 08, 2019, 02:42:31 PM
The author of thread "Reply #1" can change the subject. I have just experimented with one of the topics that I originated.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema !
Post by: castle261 on October 08, 2019, 04:56:16 PM
I have re-named it --- as requested !
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Smiffy on October 08, 2019, 07:09:18 PM
Just done a bit more research - the Majestic was actually renamed the Gaumont in 1950. 1962 is when it was changed to the Odeon. Closed in 1981 and then as shoot999 has already mentioned, demolished in 1987.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Lyn L on October 09, 2019, 05:59:32 PM
Had my first date with my late hubby at the Odeon , Nov 1962 .

Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: shoot999 on October 09, 2019, 07:36:13 PM
A few 60s tours that called in at the Odeon.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: pr1uk on October 10, 2019, 09:01:02 AM
The first cinema I went to was the Empire which was underneath the Empire Theatre there was a long tunnel going down to the doors and ticket office. It was back then 9p to get in so if you could get hold of a whole shilling it was a good day you would go to the cinema and buy 2 ounces of sweets, nearly all sweets then were 6p a quarter. Always remember the usherettes coming round with their touches and asking you to leave if they knew you had already seen the film. Back then it was great all we had indoors was the Radio Rentals Radio Box on the wall at the cinema you got Pathe News, the B film and trailers and then the main film.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Lyn L on October 10, 2019, 04:02:44 PM
Off topic slightly, but still concerning the first date there. I had met late hubby the night before , after his "girlfriend" had to be home by 9pm ! Her Dad had the cafe which was in Nags Head lane ( someone will remember it ) , naughty Bob I suppose . Anyway it was in scooter days, he picked me up from my house in Gillingham , off we sped to Rochester to find his pal waiting by the railway bridge to tell him other girl was waiting outside the cinema, pal went and told her Bob wasn't well ( Oh dear ) . She didn't hold it against me fortunately but the family soon emigrated to OZ , and with him being in the RN then, we only had 5 days before he sailed off to sunnier climes for 9mths. The rest is history , we married in 1964.  Hope that gives yo a chuckle . Sorry Stuart  ;) .
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Smiffy on October 10, 2019, 04:50:09 PM


I never went to the Empire - I can remember it being pointed out to me by Mum as we walked past but I think it had closed by then and was awaiting demolition.
 
pr1uk - not to be pedantic, but for the benefit of any younger readers I think you meant "d" instead of "p" when referring to prices!
 
Lyn, I can't remember a cafe in Nag's Head lane - whereabouts was it?
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: castle261 on October 10, 2019, 06:40:36 PM
Now the Empire, had all the shows that London had -- later.  Max Miller, Two Ton Tessie, etc.
The one I remember the most was KORINGA, a girl that wrestled with big snakes, crocodiles.
If you put   koringa    in with your cursor, there is a short film of her act.


P.S. not foregetting ---- JANE.


I believe the cinema next to the Empire was the  ` Picture House `.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: smiler on October 10, 2019, 07:31:24 PM
 Now you're talking about the Empire Theatre castle 261
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Lyn L on October 10, 2019, 08:39:13 PM
Smiffy. 
The cafe was  tucked back a bit from the main road, more or less parallel to where the pub building finishes , there's a road there now called Hawkwood Close. That's really about where the cafe was and if I remember rightly there was a hairdressers next door to it. Long time ago . Oh and I only ever went to the Empire once, to see a pantomime, I was about 11 yr and don't remember it too well.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Diapason on October 11, 2019, 09:11:27 AM
I remember the Ritz and the Regent being built in the 1938 era. The Ritz had a very plush carpet,
your feet really sunk in to it. + the Organ + the ice cream girls. I thought the Ritz was tops,
then the Majestic, then the Regent, the Palace seating was very far from the screen. the other
small cinema`s, the Invicta, the Grand, the National, the Odeon were ok, but when you think we
had all those cinema`s in Medway ---------- we were spoilt for choice.



https://www.cinema-organs.org.uk/venues/the-buttermarket-theatre/
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: shoot999 on October 11, 2019, 11:32:09 AM
During the 50s the Empire foyer was used by us waifs and strays for shelter from the rain. I do remember the pictures on display of the 'girls' were strangely fascinating; but at that age I didn't know why. :)  Iv'e been told  nan used to take us kids there each year to the pantomime; but the only thing I can recall were the bright red opera glasses; and having to put a penny in the slot to use them. Designed by the same guy who did the London Palladium is was very ornate; but even in the fifties it had seen better days. The cinema was riddled with damp, and not unusual to see the rats scurrying by!
It closed at the beginning of the 60s, and during demolition in 62 it caught fire.
I believe its a car park now?



Title: Re: Ritz and Regent !
Post by: stuartwaters on October 11, 2019, 06:39:37 PM
I think it might be better to keep each cinema in its own thread to make it easier for searching - perhaps we should have one for the Majestic/Gaumont?


I agree Smiffy, I think it best of each cinema has its own thread. I've lost track of which cinema is which in this thread.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: pr1uk on October 16, 2019, 09:20:23 AM
The cinema was riddled with damp, and not unusual to see the rats scurrying by!
It closed at the beginning of the 60s, and during demolition in 62 it caught fire.
I believe its a car park now?


Oh yes the place was a real dump but it was real cinema and at only 9d (got it right today Smiffy) that was 6d less then the posh cinemas on offer. Also in those days there was only radio indoors so the big picture was a luxury, I remember once looking around and there was a lot of men with ladies who seemed to have dropped something as they were bending over to pick something up. Well at least their head was disappearing and I also wondered why they never stayed to watch the main film, oh the age of innocence.


I agree with Smiffy it would be better to have each cinema in there own thread
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: castle261 on October 17, 2019, 05:14:46 PM
The Majestic had a part time organist, when he was on leave from the R.A.F. who lived in Luton Road.
I cant recall his name -- it could have been George Blackmore.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Diapason on October 19, 2019, 08:59:26 AM

Yes! It definitely was George Blackmore who also had connections with Rochester Cathedral.
https://stainer.co.uk/composer/george-blackmore/ (https://stainer.co.uk/composer/george-blackmore/)


Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: MartinR on October 19, 2019, 10:20:04 AM
Slightly fuller biog which mentions the Majestic at https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2a2fce67592a4301a54ee67f619ef913 (https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2a2fce67592a4301a54ee67f619ef913)
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: shoot999 on October 19, 2019, 02:35:19 PM
In the late forties the organist at the Majestic was Clem Waghorn; and some will remember him as 'Uncle Clem'  if they attended the Saturday morning club there.
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: castle261 on October 20, 2019, 06:03:28 PM
I attended my Saturday morning pictures, first at the Invicta, commonly called the ` Bug Hutch `.
Then when the Ritz opened, I joined the Ritz Club. They were the good days, of open fields,
freedom to roam far and wide. not many cars. Horse and cart, the transport for bread vans
and milk carts. You took your jug to the milkman, who dipped a metal jug into the milk churn, to
fill your jug up.

Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: grandarog on October 20, 2019, 09:13:25 PM
I cant remember the Name of the Cinema between Gardiner Street ,Gillingham Tech School and the High Street .We all played hooky one afternoon to see Bill Hayley's Rock around the Clock, Film. One of the teachers came in to extract us but there were so many of us he gave up. :)
Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: Smiffy on October 20, 2019, 10:47:06 PM
grandarog, that would be the Embassy, later the Odeon, then the Classic and then back to the Embassy again! Later it was a bingo club and finally a snooker club. I don't think it's being used for anything at the moment, but at least it's still there.

Title: Re: Medway Cinema`s
Post by: grandarog on October 21, 2019, 03:52:01 PM
Thanks Smiffy, I should have said that was in 1956. ;D