Cinema in Ramsgate........................

[AncientBlue]

On the left hand side of the block just up from St Paul's Church towards the Belle Vue Pub, somewhere about where the Bookies is now.

[The Realistic Blue]

Thats thw Widsor in Broadstairs is called the Flea Pit being its size i think its still open?

[BlueGate Alan]

Yes but now called the Palace. Plaza was the original flea pit I thought?

[Drummer]

My biggest claim to fame was that I went into the Plaza through one door as John Le Mesurier came out of the other with his son (might have been sons).

 

It also had the manager there with the evening suit, butterfly collar, white hair parted in the middle and was where I saw "Rock Around The Clock". I also got chucked out of there when I was about eight years old for sitting through three showings of "North West Mounted Police".

 

Oh, and there was another cinema almost next to Dreamland. It was like an old shed, only showed cowboy films for about 9d a time, was even dark in there with the one light bulb on and sold Green Tree Ice Cream.

 

Don't forget the Hippodrome (and possibly the Theatre Royal) also showed films.

[BlueGate Alan]

I remember that bloke Gary, we used to go there when on holidays from Wales as kids.

[AncientBlue]

Thought the Hippodrome did for a short while, but don't remember the Theatre Royal showing films.

 

Can you remember the name of the cinema in Birchington, been trying to think of it for ages.

[Drummer]

Just a thought - The Regal was in Cecil Square and the one in Northdown Road was the Astoria.

 

Both Art Deco cinemas, bombed in the war and I think the Astoria was somewhere near what used to be the Orchid Rooms and the coffee bar.

 

So at one time Margate had three Art Deco cinemas.

[AncientBlue]

I think I got the name wrong, it must have been the Astoria that I mistakenly called the Ritz, roughly where the filling station next to James' Decor is.

[BlueGate Alan]

Was it the Rex AB??

[Drummer]

Can't think of the Birchington cinema but according to my Margate Historical Society stuff, the Astoria was located on the south side of Northdown Road at its western corner with Wyndham Avenue. From the same source I can reveal that the Cameo was originally called the Lounge Picture Salon when it opened in 1912.

[Drummer]

As far as I can find out, the cinema in Birchington was The Ritz and it was run by an ex actor, Carl Conway.

 

By way of a thank you to my informant, I should say that this information came from the proprietor of Picture This, the picture framing shop and art gallery in Birchington, Station Road, just off the square.

[The Realistic Blue]

Thats true ive just walked past as live in Cliftonville and if u look from outside u can see god what is thic Challenge Anneka lol

[ramsgate60]

My biggest claim to fame was that I went into the Plaza through one door as John Le Mesurier came out of the other with his son (might have been sons).

 

 

I met John Le Mesurier 2, back in the late 70,s, He came in the shop i was helping out in Ramsgate called the Longplayer...He was drunk having been to his local boozer the Hotel de ville, (he lived nearby the pub) he asked for a copy of Record Mirror for his son, (a popular music paper in its day) but being a record store, we didnt stock it, but being who it was i asked if he would like me to go get a copy,''Yes dear boy'' he said ( i always remmembered that) he gave me

[BlueGate Alan]

Nice story Colin, thanks for sharing it with us.

[Frankie100]

Originally Posted By: ramsgate60

My biggest claim to fame was that I went into the Plaza through one door as John Le Mesurier came out of the other with his son (might have been sons).

i be came a fan of his from that day on,... a real gent, dispite his drinking problems, he was really entertaining with his stories, i bet they loved him at the Hotel De Ville

Having watched the BBC programme about Tony Hancock and how he "nicked" John Le Mesurier's wife no wonder he hit the bottle

[Drummer]

I'm never a great fan of those shows - why can't they just let us have our heroes (Hancock and Le Mesurier were two of mine).

 

Incidentally, wasn't John Le Mesurier married to Hattie Hacques? Didn't they used to live in a cottage down near the Tudor House, almost opposite Lawrence's cycle shop?

[ramsgate60]

Yes he was ,( 49-65) cant help you on the Margate bit, but i know he lived for many years in London road Ramsgate, and Joan Le Mesurier still lives in Ramsgate to this day

[AncientBlue]

He and Hattie Jaques had a cottage in Trinity Square, I believe, my wife used to walk their dog when she was a young teenager.

[Drummer]

Sounds like where I am thinking of AB.

[I am Spartacus]

Originally Posted By: AncientBlue

He and Hattie Jaques had a cottage in Trinity Square, I believe, my wife used to walk their dog when she was a young innocent teenager.

Must have been before Lesley met you and, you corrupted her AB.