Anyone remember the Vogue Cinema?

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Wasn't that the one that is now Burger King?

The manager used to come out in a dickie bow and introduce the film as I recall. It only closed down in the eighties. I know this to be true cos the ex- dragged me along to see Polanski's 'Tess' there. Longest two hours of me life. Haven't been in BK for a while but used to be if you went into the bit that showed kiddies cartoons and MTV and looked behind at where the projector would be, you could clearly see that the upstairs seating are of the old cinema was still intact and there's all these old film projectors stored in there. Might still be like that.

 

[Bwian]

It was when I went in there last year-very nostalgic for somebody who got taken there regularly by my late Dad when I was a toddler.

 

[Bromley shrimp]

Think most cinemas have been covered, but hadn't noticed anyone mention the Ritz (Summer Holiday, Young Ones and Norman Wisdom selection) in Shoreham by the viaducts. It was 1/6 rear stalls 1/3 front stalls and upstairs was 1/9 in those days, when prices didn't move much from one year to the next. It wasn't uncommon to see the end of the film first before it ran round to the start again. You then watched it and left at the point that you'd come in. The continuous loop always comprised the main film and one other 'B' movie.

The ABC Majors kept the ABC Minors under control at the " Saturday morning picturtes" at the Granada, Portland Road, Hove. They wore luminous badges. It was 9d upstairs and 6d down.

 

[Bwian]

Think most cinemas have been covered, but hadn't noticed anyone mention the Ritz (Summer Holiday, Young Ones and Norman Wisdom selection) in Shoreham by the viaducts.

I first went to The Ritz in Shoreham when I was still quite young. Went with a whole bunch of kids-many older than me. I pestered my old man for ticket money and more for some goodies whilst there.

"What film are you going to see?" says he.

"A war movie" says I.

"Which one?"

"The Ten Commandos".

"Alright" he says with a smile on his face.

Bloody Ten Commandments was about 5 days long.





Still-I was quite young

 

[Yorkie]

Think most cinemas have been covered, but hadn't noticed anyone mention the Ritz (Summer Holiday, Young Ones and Norman Wisdom selection) in Shoreham by the viaducts. It was 1/6 rear stalls 1/3 front stalls and upstairs was 1/9 in those days, when prices didn't move much from one year to the next. It wasn't uncommon to see the end of the film first before it ran round to the start again. You then watched it and left at the point that you'd come in. The continuous loop always comprised the main film and one other 'B' movie.

The ABC Majors kept the ABC Minors under control at the " Saturday morning picturtes" at the Granada, Portland Road, Hove. They wore luminous badges. It was 9d upstairs and 6d down.

I remember that turning into a Bingo Hall because my Dad used to go in the mid- sixties.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I found this comprehensive Directory of cinemas in Brighton & Hove at http://www.terramedia.co.uk/brighton/brighton_cinema_directory.htm

Details are given under the earliest name of the theatre at each site, with cross-references from subsequent names.

ABC Cinema, 75 East Street, Brighton
1963-1986, 1997-1999
see Savoy Cinema-Theatre

Academy Theatre, 59 West Street, Brighton 10
1911-1973
1931-1932 Tatler

Ace Cinema, 107-108 Lewes Road, Brighton
1965-1968, 1969-1971
see Gaiety Cinema

Aquarium Kinema, Madeira Drive, Brighton F
Winter Garden at the Aquarium was known under this name for a short time during the First World War; occasional film performances were held here until 1939. Film shows were given at the Aquarium before the turn of the century.

Arcadia Cinema, 16 Lewes Road, Brighton
see People's Picture Palace

Astoria, 15 Gloucester Place, Brighton [next to Central Baptist Church] 19
1933-1977

Bijou Electric Empire, 64 North Street, Brighton 11
1911-1915 [site 1911-1983]
The site had previously been a photographic business in the 1870s
1915 Prince's Electric Theatre
1918 Bijou Select Palace
1919 Prince's Cinema
1947 Prince's News Theatre
1967 Jacey Cinema
1969 Brighton Film Theatre
1978 closed
1979 Cinescene

Bijou Select Palace, 64 North Street, Brighton
1918-1919
see Bijou Electric Empire

Brighton Film Theatre, 64 North Street, Brighton
1969-1978
see Bijou Electric Empire

Cannon Cinema, 75 East Street, Brighton
see Savoy Cinema-Theatre

Cannon Cinemas, Brighton Marina
1991-date
1991 10-screen multiplex opened; Cannon Cinemas soon acquired by MGM/Pathé (owned by French company Crédit Lyonnaise), part of (by 1993) the largest UK cinema chain with 426 screens
1995 summer Acquired by Virgin Cinemas
1999 October Acquired by French exhibitor UGC

Cinema-de-Luxe, 150 North Street, Brighton 05
c1910-1942
c1910 opened in the former printing works of the Brighton Gazette. Single-floor auditorium with 520 seats.
1942 destroyed by fire. The building is demolished in 1962 and Prudential House built.

Cinescene, 64 North Street, Brighton
1979-1983
see Bijou Electric Empire

Classic Cinema, Lewes Road, Brighton
1979-1980
see Gaiety Cinema

Classic Cinema, 130 Western Road, Brighton
1975-1979
see Electric Bioscope

Coliseum, 78 West Street, Brighton
1918-1919
see Grand Picture Palace

Continentale Cinema, Sudeley Place, Kemp Town, Brighton
1951-1986
see King's Cliff Cinema

Coronation Cinema, 104 North Road, Brighton 09
1911-1928 [site 1911-1939]
1928 New Coronation
1934 Troxy Cinema
1938 Rex News Theatre
1939 Closed

Court Cinema, 16-17 New Road, Brighton 02
1909-1945 [site 1909-1957, intermittently]
1909 Former Coliseum Theatre has cinema equipment
1947 Dolphin Theatre
1955 Paris [Continental] Cinema
1957 Reverts to repertory theatre use
1962/63 Closed
1967 Demolished

Curzon Cinema, 130 Western Road, Brighton
1936-1975
see Electric Bioscope

Devonshire Cinema, Eastern Road, Brighton
1920-1922
see Tierney's Royal Picture Theatre

Dolphin Theatre, 16-17 New Road, Brighton
1947-1952
see Court Cinema

Duke of York's Cinema, Preston Circus, Brighton 04
1910 to date

Electric Bioscope, 130 Western Road, Brighton 01
1909-1910 [site 1909-1979]
1910 Queen's Electric Theatre, complete with dimmable auditorium lights, curtains revealing the screen and an orchestra
1915 Queen's Picture Theatre
1919 Picturedrome
1922 Scala Cinema
1932 Regal Cinema
1936 Curzon Kinema
1975 Classic Cinema and operating an art-house programming policy
1979 Closed.

Embassy, 1 Western Road, Hove
1948-1981
see Hove Cinematograph Theatre

Empire Picture Theatre, Haddington Street, Hove
1910-1933
1910 First film shows in a former assembly hall, converted by Harry Scriven, whose son Eddie acted as projectionist and also took newsreels of local events from an open-top car, the films being shown three days later.
1933 Closed.

Essoldo Cinema, 134 North Street, Brighton
1950-1964
see Imperial Cinema

Gaiety Cinema, 107-108 Lewes Road, Brighton
1937-1965 [site 1937-1980]
Gaiety (Brighton) Ltd [Picturedrome, Eastbourne; Randolph E Richards]
1937 April 24 Opened. The cinema has a 50-foot high neon-lit facade and is in the grounds of the Allen Arms (since renamed the Counting House). Proscenium 42ft, Westrex sound system. Car park.
1948 1,500 seats, continuous performances from 2pm
1965 November Renamed the Ace Cinema
1968 January Use for bingo
1969 December Revived for cinema performances
1971 Renamed the Vogue Cinema; programming changed to pornography with live strip shows
1979 Renamed the Classic Cinema
1980 October closed.
Gaiety Shop (confectionary) adjacent (109 Lewes Road) under same management. The road arrangement at the junction of Lewes Road, Bear Road, Hollingdean Road and Upper Lewes Road, created when the Sainsbury's superstore opened in 1984, is called the Vogue gyratory system in honour of the cinema during its mainly porno era.

Gem Electric Cinema, 36a London Road, Brighton 03
1910-1914
1910 Opened by a Mr Thompson, 60 seats
1914 Closed. Later a Freeman Hardy & Willis shoe shop (recently closed)

Granada, Portland Road, Hove
Associated British Cinemas Ltd [London]
1948 1,592 seats, continuous performances
Café; Westrex sound system

Grand Cinema, (46) North Road, Brighton
1931-1940
1931 January 22 Opened in the converted Grand Theatre (itself having previously been the Hippodrome Circus (1891-1894) and the Eden Theatre (1894-1904); 1,140 seats
1940 Closed late in the year, re-opening as a theatre from July 1941 to 1955. The building was destroyed by fire in 1961. The site was occupied by the ugly Gresham House (probably in memory of Sir Thomas Gresham, after whom is named the law that bad money drives out good), no more attractive for being renamed early in 2000

Grand Cinema-de-Luxe
see Palladium Cinema

Grand Picture Palace, 78 West Street, Brighton 06
1911-1918
1911 Opened in a converted roller-skating rink, built in 1892 (replacing a photographic business that had been on the site between 1882 and 1891); 2,000 seats (!)
1918 Renamed the Coliseum
1919 Fire destroys the cinema and the building is re-opened as Sherry's Dance Hall which, with the Regent, becomes the centre of Brighton night life in the inter-war years. The building now houses the Paradox night club and Club Barcelona (formerly the Pink Coconut and Crystal Room); the Middle Street frontage is unchanged.

Hippodrome, Middle Street, Brighton
1929 [site 1897-date]
1929 February 3-June 23 Owned by General Theatre Corporation but run as a live variety theatre, screening films on Sundays during restoration of the Regent after a fire. [The Hippodrome was established in 1902 by Tom Barrasford, whose northern music hall circuit (or 'tour') had expanded southwards and was now based at the Hippodrome (opened 1897), which Barrasford had converted from an ice rink (cf Academy) into a variety theatre to designs by the theatre architect Frank Matcham. Barrasford died at Hippodrome House on 1 February 1910 and his funeral is said to have been one of the largest ever seen in Brighton.] The Beatles played here on a bill with Roy Orbison on 2 June 1963 and then as headliners on 12 July 1964 and 25 October 1964

Hove Cinematograph Theatre, 1 Western Road, Hove 14
c1912-1922 [site c1912-1981]
c1912 Opened
1922 Tivoli Cinema
1948 Embassy Cinema
1981 Closed


Hove Electric Empire, George Street, Hove
1911-1934
1911 April 11 Opened as the first purpose-built cinema in Hove

. The architects are J H Hickton & J E Farmer of Walsall. The cinema is also known as the Electric Theatre.
c1929 Converted to sound.
1934 Closed.

Imperial Cinema, 134 North Street, Brighton 23
1943-1950 [site 1940-1964]
1940 Opened as a drama and variety theatre.
1943 Film performances included
1950 Essoldo
1964 Closed

Imperial Picture Palace, 5 St James Street, Brighton 12
1912-1916
1912 Opened, 270 seats
1916 Closed

Jacey Cinema, 64 North Street, Brighton
1967-1969
see Bijou Electric Empire

King's Cliff Cinema, Sudeley Place, Kemp Town, Brighton 15
1920-1947 [site 1920-1986 intermittently]
1920 Opened in a converted Congregational chapel, 370 seats, converted by local architects Denman & Matthew (Brighton).
1930 GB-Kalee sound system installed
1947 Changed from cinema use to become Playhouse Repertory Theatre
1948 Apparently run as the Metro Cinema by Jack Leslie & Co. Although listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook for 1948—prices 10d-1s6d, continuous from 3.15pm, booked at hall; proscenium 14ft, British Acoustic Films (BAF) sound system—it is not mentioned by that name in any local sources consulted so far.
1949 Local reports claim it is acquired by Myles Byrne Organisation and renamed Playhouse Cinema. At that time Miles Byrne [sic] was entering the cinema business in Hereford and has no apparent Sussex connection until the mid 1960s.
1951 Renamed Continentale Cinema and showing European films.
1953 Listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook as owned by Fernie & Sydenham, still booked at the hall.
1957 Listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook as owned by G H Fernie. Prices 1d 6d-3s 2d.
late 1960s Programming changes to pornographic films
1986 December Closed. Converted into flats in the late 1980s.

Majestic Cinema, Eastern Road, Brighton
1919-1920
see Tierney's Royal Picture Theatre

New Coronation, 104 North Road, Brighton
1928-1934
see Coronation Cinema

Novelty Electric Theatre, 27 West Street, Brighton 21
1911-1913
1911 Opened. The premises were formerly used for a bazaar.
1913 Closed. The building was demolished in 1934. (Now National House, corner of Regency Road.)

Odeon, Denmark Villas, Hove
Odeon Theatres Ltd [London]
1948 Prices 1s-2s 9d, continuous performances
Westrex sound system

Odeon, 85 King's Road, Brighton
1936-1937
see Palladium Cinema

Odeon Kingswest, King's Road/West Street, Brighton 25
1973 to date

Odeon, 40 St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton 20
1934-1960
1934 February 1 Opened on a site (across Paston Place from St George's Church) that was formerly the Sassoon family riding school. British Thomson-Houston sound system. Owned by Odeon Theatres Ltd
1940 September 14 3.30pm Fifty-nine people, mostly children, are killed when the balcony collapses during an air-raid that severely damages the building. (Some accounts say only four children and two adults are killed and 20 others injured.) The surviving staff were taken for a day trip to Denham Studios during filming of Major Barbara, starring Rex Harrison and the film debut of Deborah Kerr.
1948 900 seats; prices 1s-2s 3d, continuous performances, booked in London
1960 Cinema closed. Used for bingo from 1962, then from 1983 as a social centre called The City until it was demolished in January 1986. Cavendish Court stands on the site.

Odeon, West Street/Little Russell Street, Brighton 24
1937-1973
Odeon Properties Ltd [London]
1937 December Opened on the north side of Little Russell Street, next to St Paul's Church—Brighton Ice Rink (SS Brighton) was on the south side; 1,350 seats, British Thomson-Houston sound system. Café.
1948 Prices 1s 9d-4s 6d, continuous performances
1973 December Closed when Odeon Kingswest opened. The building stood unused until demolished in 1990.

Palladium Cinema, 85 King's Road, Brighton (also called Grand Cinema-de-Luxe) 13
1912-1956

Paris Continental Cinema, 16-17 New Road, Brighton
1955-1957
see Court Cinema

People's Picture Palace, Park Crescent Place/16 Lewes Road, Brighton 22
1910-1957
1910 Opened as a permanent 478-seat cinema in the former Arcadia Theatre of Varieties, where Harry Houdini had appeared and film shows had been included from around 1907, the year in which the theatre was converted from Tilley's horse bus stables—a victim of the changes in transport after the introduction of trams. The name was soon changed to the Arcadia Cinema and the entrance in Lewes Road was created.
Taken over by O&P Cinemas (Brighton) Ltd [Rigden Lodge, Rigden Road, Hove]
1948 Still 478 seats, continuous performances, three programmes weekly, booked at hall
Soundcraft sound system
1953 Listed in the Kinematograph Yearbook as owned by Robert Gordon Cinemas, Rothbury Cinema, Franklin Road, Portslade, where programmes were booked.
1957 Closed. The Brighton Trades and Labour Club occupies the site.

Picturedrome, Eastern Road, Brighton
1916-1919
see Tierney's Royal Picture Theatre

Picturedrome, 130 Western Road, Brighton
1919-1922
see Electric Bioscope

Playhouse Cinema, Sudeley Place, Kemp Town, Brighton
see King's Cliff Cinema

Prince's Cinema, 64 North Street, Brighton
1919-1947
see Bijou Electric Empire

Prince's Electric Theatre, 64 North Street, Brighton
1915-1918
see Bijou Electric Empire

Princes News Theatre, 64 North Street, Brighton
1947-1967
see Bijou Electric Empire

Queen's Picture Theatre, 130 Western Road, Brighton
1915-1919
see Electric Bioscope

Regal Cinema, 130 Western Road, Brighton
1932-1936
see Electric Bioscope

Regent Cinema, 133 Queen's Road/133 North Street, Brighton 16
1921-1973

Rex News Theatre, 104 North Road, Brighton
1938-1939
see Coronation Cinema

Rothbury Cinema, Franklin Road, Portslade-by-Sea
O&P Cinemas (Brighton) Ltd
1948 548 seats, prices 10d-2s 3d, continuous performances
Café and dance hall, proscenium 34ft, British Thomson-Houston sound system.
Building now occupied by Southern FM radio station

Savoy Cinema-Theatre, 75 East Street, Brighton 17
1930-1963 [site 1930-1999]
1963 ABC Cinema
1975 Closed for conversion
1976 Re-opened as a four-screen complex
1986 Cannon Cinema
1995 Virgin Cinemas
1997 ABC Cinema
1999 Closed.

Scala Cinema, 130 Western Road, Brighton
1922-1932
see Electric Bioscope

Tatler, 59 West Street, Brighton
1931
see Academy Theatre

Tierney Royal Picture Theatre, 64 Edward Street, Brighton 08
1911-1916 [site 1911-1922]
1911 Opens on the site of the Tierney Arms pub.
1916 Renamed Picturedrome.
1919 Renamed the Majestic Cinema.
1920 Renamed the Devonshire Cinema.
1922 Closed. Converted for use as Brighton Boys' Club, opened by the Prince of Wales on 23 March 1927.

Tivoli Cinema, 1 Western Road, Hove
1922-1948
see Hove Cinematograph Theatre

Troxy Cinema, 104 North Road, Brighton
1934-1938
see Coronation Cinema

UGC Cinemas, Brighton Marina
1999-date
see Cannon Cinemas

Virgin Cinemas, Brighton Marina
1995-1999
see Cannon Cinemas

Vogue Cinema, Lewes Road, Brighton
1971-1979
see Gaiety Cinema​

 

[Blackadder]

I'm almost certain that the one in Haywards Heath was "The Perrymount" - it was directly opposite the bus station in Perrymount Road.

I can confirm that it was The Perrymount. It's been closed for years now!

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Is the cinema on North Road next to what is now Boots? It was a bingo hall for years but I seem to recall that it had become a massive sports shop the last time I was down.

Is North Street

 

[Goodfella]

I started at The 'VOGUE' cinema as a trainee projectionist in 1974 at the age of 16, yes i was the envy of all my mates as they couldnt get in to see the so called 'Mucky' films, when i reached 18 i was put in charge as a chief, and also in charge of the striptease shows, my main job being that i had to entertain the strippers whilst they were in Brighton, in between doin 2,10 min slots on the stage, takin them for meals, drinks etc..... all paid for.

After 3 years of bein seduced by older women, i was reluctantly moved to the 'Classic' cinema in Western Road, as both were owned by Classic cinemas, 18 months later was moved back to the 'Vogue' until its iminent closure in 1979. after a year of doin nowt, i then went to the Duke Of Yorks in 1980, where i have been ever since, and am now technical manager there.

I am glad to answer any questions about the Vogue/Classic/Duke Of Yorks
1974-present.

 

[Goodfella]

LOL, just realised this thread is 4 years old. Oh well.

 

[bigc]

I started at The 'VOGUE' cinema as a trainee projectionist in 1974 at the age of 16, yes i was the envy of all my mates as they couldnt get in to see the so called 'Mucky' films, when i reached 18 i was put in charge as a chief, and also in charge of the striptease shows, my main job being that i had to entertain the strippers whilst they were in Brighton, in between doin 2,10 min slots on the stage, takin them for meals, drinks etc..... all paid for.

Imagine putting THAT in picturehouse recommends..

 

[brighton bluenose]

The cinema that's now Boots in North St was the Regent. My mum worked there for a bit, so I saw Sound of Music for nothing
QUOTE]

My old man used to work there too and the Academy and Odeon as all three were part of the Rank Group.

We saw loads of films for free over the years - many about a million times!!
(OK OK - slight exaggeration!)

Battle of Britain, Oliver! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! stick in mind!

The Childcatcher was fvcking TERRIFYING if you were 8 or 9 -
he wouldnt get me now : !!!

 

[MOG]

I remember the Odeon Kemp Town. Saturday morning pictures in the mid/late 50's as a kid then walk along the road and buy some bread and scrape (heaven).

 

[dougdeep]

There were two in Lewes, one in Newhaven and one in Seaford. All now sadly gone.

 

[timbha]

I used to queue for the school bus when I was 5 outside the Vogue cinema. The doorways sheltered us from the rain. The bus went up to my school St Josephs in Hollingdean.

I was gutted when they redeveloped the area. All that remains of the Cox's pill factory is the clock, which is now on the Sainsburys which stands on the site.

number 53 or 54 bus? later to become 58 and 59.

 

[oneday]

The Curzon, in Western Road, Brighton was where Waitrose is now.
I remember the back seats of the balcony had double seats. Meant you could have a good fumble without the arm between getting in the way. Memories!!!

 

[timbha]

number 53 or 54 bus? later to become 58 and 59.

sorry, it took me 4 years to raise this important question!!!

 

[Jambo Seagull]

I started at The 'VOGUE' cinema as a trainee projectionist in 1974 at the age of 16, yes i was the envy of all my mates as they couldnt get in to see the so called 'Mucky' films, when i reached 18 i was put in charge as a chief, and also in charge of the striptease shows, my main job being that i had to entertain the strippers whilst they were in Brighton, in between doin 2,10 min slots on the stage, takin them for meals, drinks etc..... all paid for.

After 3 years of bein seduced by older women, i was reluctantly moved to the 'Classic' cinema in Western Road, as both were owned by Classic cinemas, 18 months later was moved back to the 'Vogue' until its iminent closure in 1979. after a year of doin nowt, i then went to the Duke Of Yorks in 1980, where i have been ever since, and am now technical manager there.

I am glad to answer any questions about the Vogue/Classic/Duke Of Yorks
1974-present.

God, what a job!

Do you remember Grant Wakefield? Used to work at Duke of Yorks back in the 80s I think. I went to school with him. Googled him about a year ago and worked out he is now some arty photographer and filmmaker I think.

 

[Goodfella]

God, what a job!

Do you remember Grant Wakefield? Used to work at Duke of Yorks back in the 80s I think. I went to school with him. Googled him about a year ago and worked out he is now some arty photographer and filmmaker I think.

Yep, remember him well, and if i'm right, claimed to be distantly related to gracie Fields.

Fuckin Weirdo!!!