Gaumont Dover

Gaumont Dover, originally known as King's Hall, was a cinema in Dover, Kent, England. It opened in October 1911 as the first purpose-built cinema in Dover, designed by A.H. Steele for Dover's Picture Palace Co. Ltd, with seating for 800 and a stage for live entertainment. The cinema was acquired by theatrical entrepreneur Harry Day during the First World War and owned by him until 1928. After refurbishment in 1931 increased seating to 1,050, it was acquired by Gaumont-British in 1934 and equipped for sound. A major fire on 29 December 1937 destroyed most of the building, leaving only the entrance façade; it was rebuilt in 1939 for Keystone Cinemas Ltd to designs by Verity & Beverley. During the Second World War it was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for gunnery training, and in 1943 it was taken over by Odeon Cinemas. It reopened on 14 July 1947 with the film Frieda, attended by star David Farrar. The cinema was renamed Gaumont in 1951 and closed in 1960. From 1961 it operated as a bingo club, and from 2018 was named Buzz Bingo. The Gaumont Dover name thus refers to a specific historic cinema brand presence in Dover, part of the wider Gaumont-British and Odeon cinema circuits, rather than a standalone company.

King's Hall, later known as Gaumont Dover, was the first purpose-built cinema in Dover, Kent, England. It was designed by A.H. Steele for Dover's Picture Palace Co. Ltd, with its frontage on Biggin Street and the auditorium extending into the ground behind. The cinema seated 800 and included a stage for live entertainment. It opened in October 1911, showing a Kinemacolor film of the unveiling of the Victoria Memorial in London. During the First World War the cinema was acquired by Harry Day, a theatrical entrepreneur and later a politician, who owned it until 1928. Facing increased competition in Dover, the cinema was refurbished in 1931, with seating increased to 1,050. In 1934 it was acquired by Gaumont-British, and new sound equipment was installed. On 29 December 1937, most of the building was destroyed in a fire, with only the entrance façade saved. It was rebuilt in 1939 for the new owners Keystone Cinemas Ltd, to designs by Verity & Beverley, architects of many cinemas in the 1920s and 1930s. During the Second World War the building was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and used to train recruits in the use of gunnery aiming equipment. In 1943 it was taken over by Odeon Cinemas. It reopened on 14 July 1947 with the film Frieda; David Farrar, who starred in the film, made a personal appearance. The name of the cinema changed to Gaumont in 1951. It closed in 1960, and opened the following year as a bingo club; from 2018 it was named Buzz Bingo.

• 2018

  Bingo club renamed Buzz Bingo.

• 1961

  Opened as a bingo club.

• 1960

  Closed as a cinema.

• 1951

  Name changed to Gaumont.

• 1947

  Reopened on 14 July with the film Frieda; David Farrar made a personal appearance.

• 1943

  Taken over by Odeon Cinemas.

• 1939

  Rebuilt for Keystone Cinemas Ltd, designed by Verity & Beverley.

• 1937

  On 29 December, most of the building destroyed in a fire; only entrance façade saved.

• 1934

  Acquired by Gaumont-British; new sound equipment installed.

• 1931

  Refurbished with seating increased to 1,050.

• 1914

  Acquired by Harry Day during the First World War; owned until 1928.

• 1911

  Opened in October as King's Hall, the first purpose-built cinema in Dover, seating 800.

Local cinema within the Gaumont-British and later Odeon circuits; a historic Dover entertainment venue.

• Cinema screenings

  Film screenings from 1911 to 1960, including early Kinemacolor presentations.

• Live entertainment

  Stage performances in the early years of the cinema.

1. 1Gaumont Dover - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2King's Hall, Dover - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org