In the 5th edition of Isle of Wight cinemas, Island Echo examines the 3 cinemas that once graced the streets of the South Wight town of Ventnor.
All Ventnorians know of the Rex Cinema. A replica of its art deco frontage still exists as the Rex Restaurant, which forms part of the Kingsview building. But did you know 2 former Ventnor cinemas from the silent movie era predated the Rex: the Bijou and the Gaiety?
The Bijou (High Street)
The Bijou – which had been converted from a toy shop – was first named the Electric Palace. It was opened by a Mrs Morgan Richards in 1911.
It was relatively inexpensive with unreserved seats available at 3d and 4d and reserved seats costing 6d, 9d and 1 shilling. The most expensive seat would have been 5p in modern currency (£5 in today’s values).
After World War I, the name was changed by the new proprietor – J. A. Margerison – to the Bijou Cinema. In February 1926, the Bijou was damaged by fire but was then repaired and opened again that summer. By this time, it was owned by Burts Brewery.
The Bijou Cinema never had a sound system, and the advent of the ‘talkies’ put paid to its existence in the early 1930s.
In 1935, the building was sold to the Isle of Wight Electric Light and Power Company, who used it as an electricity showroom. It was then bought by Osborne Smith in 1951 and converted into offices. A new frontage was constructed, and the old cinema was lost without trace.
The Gaiety (Grove Road)
The 2nd cinema to be built in Ventnor – simply named The Cinema – was built in 1924 by local builder Tom Brading.
The Cinema was known for its comfort and its famous sliding roof, which was often opened during performances in the summer. The sliding roof was particularly useful at a time when everyone smoked – even in movie theatres – allowing cigarette fumes to escape. It had seating for 320 customers on 2 levels.
In 1930, the cinema was sold to Isle of Wight Theatres, who renamed it The Gaiety. It was closed during World War II but re-opened when the nearby Rex Cinema was damaged by German bombs.
The Gaiety shut for good in 1946 with the reopening of the Rex Cinema. It was later converted into a Freemasons’ Lodge.
The Rex (Church Street)
Work on a new super-cinema for Ventnor – commissioned by Isle of Wight Theatres Ltd – began in 1937. However, the new building caused anxiety among Ventnor townsfolk, who felt that such a large building on so prominent a site could be intrusive and fail to blend in with the local landscape.
The swanky new Rex Cinema had many of the characteristics of the then-fashionable Art Deco design, including a mock tower of the type seen on new 1930s suburban railway stations and stainless steel entrance doors. However, behind the façade lay a massive auditorium that – when viewed from the Esplanade – was said to resemble a giant aircraft hangar.
Local councillors were apparently horrified when they saw the finished building. They believed it looked hideous and failed to harmonise with its surroundings. 1 council member described it as “a great barracks”.
The Rex Cinema was opened in May 1938. The first films to be shown were Lovely to Look At with Sonja Henie and Oh Mr Porter with Will Hay. With the coming of war in 1939, the so-called ‘super cinema’ became a valued community asset as an escape from the privations and worries of wartime.
The Rex was damaged by German bombs in 1941 and remained closed until 1946. The cinema had a very lucky escape as the buildings to its west had to be demolished. This gave the massive red brick auditorium even greater prominence when seen from the seafront. It remained something of an eyesore in the view of many locals.
In October 1965, the Rex became part of the Star Cinemas chain. It was immortalised in the 1970s film That’ll be the Day – starring David Essex – which was shot on the Isle of Wight. The Rex appears in the background of 1 of the scenes.
The cinema closed for good on 10th September 1980. Kramer vs Kramer with Dustin Hoffman was the final film to be screened.
It was then converted into an amusement arcade and an exhibition called Enchanted Caverns. Sadly, much of the building was destroyed by a fire in March 1993. However, the amusement arcade at the front continued to operate until the remainder of the structure was demolished in 2001.
The Kingsview Building was built in its place with the Rex Restaurant on the ground floor.
Do you have any magical memories of the Rex Cinema in Ventnor or the Enchanted Caverns that came in its place? Let us know in the comments…
In the 6th part of Isle of Wight Cinemas, we shall take a look at the 2 cinemas that once entertained the people of the West Wight village of Freshwater.
The REX 1955 sunday night western Rory Calhoun you had to be 16 to get in on Sunday nights “please take me in mister” or be with an adult thanks to Les Westmore those were the days