Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Herne Bay after the cinemas have gone
Alan Stingemore's short film shows what happens after a town's 1930s cinema has vanished from the scene - and the conservation efforts to rescue an even earlier example.
From the collection of:
Overview
The film starts at the junction of Avenue Road and Sea Street in Herne Bay where a large block of flats can be seen. The flats occupy the site where Herne Bay's original Odeon, later renamed Cannon, cinema once stood. We then move to the town's promenade with views of the Clock Tower and Pier Pavilion. A couple feed the local gulls accompanied by barking dogs. We then see an older building covered in scaffolding which was originally known as the Red Lantern Cinema.
Alan Stingemore's film follows up his earlier work which captured the demolition of Herne Bayβs Odeon cinema. Both films are held at Screen Archive South East. The Red Lantern cinema, seen in the latter half of this film, was originally opened in August 1911 as the Cinema De Luxe before closing for alterations by the architect J Wilson. Reopening in 1912 and now called the Bijou Theatre, it staged concerts and variety shows as well as screening films. After another name change to the Coliseum, the cinema was sold to a new owner in 1926 who once again renamed it as the Red Lantern Theatre. Closing in 1937 the building became a clothing factory for many years before finally opening as an antiques shopping arcade.
Related
Ramsgate's Odeon and the demolition of a Herne Bay cinema Ramsgate's Odeon and the demolition of a Herne Bay cinema
Amateur film 1985 8 mins Location: Ramsgate
Watch in horror as two of Kent's Art Deco cinemas await their terrible fate at the hands of developers
Various Cinemas in the Medway towns Various Cinemas in the Medway towns
Amateur film 1986 2 mins Location: Gillingham
A sad end awaits Medway's forlorn looking cinemas and theatres in Alan Stingemore's short film from the 1980s. Which ones will succumb to the bulldozers and which will survive?
The Frozen Sea at Herne Bay in 1963 The Frozen Sea at Herne Bay in 1963
Amateur film 1963 5 mins Silent Location: Herne Bay
John Clague's remarkable look at an ice-bound and shivering Herne Bay during Britain's Big Freeze of 1963
Herne Bay Pier & Prince Charles visits Westgate in Canterbury Herne Bay Pier & Prince Charles visits Westgate in Canterbury
Amateur film 1978 4 mins Silent Location: Herne Bay
Herne Bay's pier suffers a battering in this 1978 film by John Clague, which later shows the great and good of Canterbury greeting their royal visitor, Prince Charles
Herne Bay's new tower block Herne Bay's new tower block
Amateur film 1975 5 mins Silent Location: Herne Bay
Watch Herne Bay's newest high-rise building grow from its foundations to its topping out - in John Clague's film featuring his own architectural creation
Herne Bay Newsreel: The Carnival Herne Bay Newsreel: The Carnival
Amateur film 1967 3 mins Location: Herne Bay
Herne Bay pulls out all the stops for its 1967 Carnival - filmed in glorious colour by John Clague - with Beauty Queens, bagpipes and a harem on wheels
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of childrenβs palliative care.
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.