Margate's Dreamland Cinema

[Hairy Vince]

I love the David Copperfield disappering building!

[Cheryl]

Absolutely brilliant porf, it shows how lovely the seafront would be without this 'concrete monster'. Perhaps we should e-mail it to someone at the Council!

Going back to the lighting of the Dreamland Fin, or lack of it. If this is a listed building, doesn't the owner have an obligation to keep it properly maintained? I don't know if that includes the lighting but if it did perhaps we could apply some pressure. I have to say the lighting really is missed on the margate skyline at night.

[cliffc]

Thank you, that made me laugh, which is amazing, given I've spent all evening wrestling with a helium canister, ribboning up balloons and attacking my errant printer with whatever came to hand (a hole punch).

Doesn't that reveal just how much the cinema used to dominate the skyline?

I remain of the opinion that Arlington House wouldn't be so bad if it was given a lick of paint, those ugly aerials removed and all tatty curtaining confiscated in a dawn raid. The flats have the most beautiful views... perhaps because it's the only place in Margate you can't see Arlington House from.

Sarah

Hi

I must agree that the skyline would look much bettter with that building removed, and if more could be spent on improving the cinemas outside of the building, the front would look a lot better.

However as a PC tech i must advise you not to attack printers with hole punches lol i find large hammers to be a better fix.

Cliff C

[Sarah]

Going back to the lighting of the Dreamland Fin, or lack of it. If this is a listed building, doesn't the owner have an obligation to keep it properly maintained? I don't know if that includes the lighting but if it did perhaps we could apply some pressure. I have to say the lighting really is missed on the margate skyline at night.

I'm certain it would include the lighting, particularly as 'Dreamland' in lights has formed part of the cinema's exterior from day one (see the cover of Dreamland Remembered). Leave it with me, I will get started on applying some pressure...

Sarah

[RowBot]

way to go Sarah because I must admit the lack of lighting did disappoint me last time I saw it lol. Does it get busy much in there anymore?

[Chris H]

Well this is the problem Rowbot

Because the owner refuses to invest in it, people much prefer to go to the Carlton cinema in Westgate where the seating is luxurious, unlike Dreamlands where you come out with backache after the movie.

I have also noticed that the wood above windows on the front of the building is rotting.
The reason is clear why people would prefer to go elsewhere rather than go to Margate for their weekend breaks

[Bob]

Well this is the problem Rowbot

Because the owner refuses to invest in it, people much prefer to go to the Carlton cinema in Westgate where the seating is luxurious, unlike Dreamlands where you come out with backache after the movie.

I have also noticed that the wood above windows on the front of the building is rotting.
The reason is clear why people would prefer to go elsewhere rather than go to Margate for their weekend breaks

As a listed building they are restricted on what they can change. They may be required to keep the original seating, Screen & even projection equipment.

[porf]

Perhaps they are limited in what they can do, but Toby Hunter's Gazette interview contained the following quote :

Initial discussions have started with the cinema operator to provide better seating and upgrade the vision and sound facilities.

So it looks like that's the way the head of the redevelopment company plans to go, unless anyone else knows better.

Edit : I fully support the return of the lights, lets see them back!

[N Evans]

Hello All, I've been watching from the sidelines for some time - not because I wanted to keep out of debate (quite the opposite) but I kept forgetting user name and password stuff! Have reregistered and hopefully my brain can register the info needed to get back here in future.

Arlington House was meant to be a trend setter in its day. I have a broadsheet newspaper supplement from the old East Kent Times newspaper of 1963 (EKT was based in Ramsgate and closed in 1981) which highlights this and all the other aspects of its development. It's arrival was as widely awaited as that of say Westwood Cross in more recent times.

True, the place is almost universally disliked (I mean Arlington House but you may have other ideas!) but if you want to read more about it, rush along to Albion Bookshops in Canterbury, Cliftonville and Broadstairs to buy a copy of the latest Bygone Kent magazine and you will see an article about the place in that by yours truly. I know it may seem I only come on here to plug my own things but this is surely coincidence??

D'land cinemas is leased by Reeltime, who own the Carlton Cinema in Westgate by the way along wioth a few others scattered about the country. Hopefully, they may have some influence over any possible refurb before the intended Thanet multiplex scheme takes hold.

By the by, if anyone is a Bygone Kent fan, this issue is likely to be the last as the publisher has gone into administration this week. I'd just taken over as Editor and given the mag a much needed new look so I'm a bit brassed off about this to put it politely. Had been hoping to use BK to include latest developments at Dreamland and give the campaign another place in which to get its message across. Anyway, who knows I might mount a rescue bid sometime.

Keep up the good work everyone and if there's a members' conference or meeting, hope to see you there.

[RowBot]

I tell ya what Nick apart from your book on Dreamland there is no others that are so wide spread in shops. Only other Dreamland 1's I have seen are low cost and only have about 100 made if that (because most printing companies will only do it when it's big). Was tlking to this man down a book shop in Ramsgate and he seemed really in the know about Dreamland and all the books out and about.
You probally know all this already but just had to get them quick comments in since it might help other people who's looking for books.

Ian