Source Dreamland Heritage Trust and Cinema Treasures
It is 89 years since the Dreamland Cinema opened its doors on March 22, 1935.
Built on the site of the 900 seat Dreamland Variety Theatre of 1923, (later re-named Dreamland Cinema), John Henry Ilse invested more than £500,000 into the Dreamland site between 1920 and 1935, constantly adding new rides and facilities, and culminating in the construction of the Dreamland cinema complex in 1934.
The project was overseen by Iles’s son, John Bird Iles, in partnership with the established architects, Leathart & Granger and was strongly influenced by German cinema design, with no expense spared on the project.
The spectacular art deco expressionist-influenced brick idiom frontage of the cinema was the first of its kind in Britain. The huge art deco cinema fin tower gave the building prominence from a great distance along the shoreline and was to prove influential on the subsequent design of the Odeon chain of cinemas.
The Dreamland Cinema and Ballroom building was completed in the early part of 1935 and opened its doors to the public on Friday 22nd March 1935 with screenings of Greta Garbo in “The Painted Veil” and Laurel & Hardy in “Them Thar Hills”.
Inside the auditorium seating was provided for 1,328 in the stalls and 722 in the balcony. The interior design was by John Bird-Iles and sculptures of sea nymphs set into recesses each side of the auditorium were the work of Eric Aumonier.
The cinema had a fully equipped stage and has a 40ft wide proscenium. It was equipped with a Western Electric(WE) sound system.
The cinema was closed from 1940 due to the war and didn’t re-open until 1st July 1946.
The Dreamland Cinema was then twinned and re-opened on 22nd April 1973 with two cinemas in the former balcony which seated 378 and 376. The former stalls area became a live theatre but this was not a success and closed on 11th January 1975 and was converted into a bingo hall.
A third screen seating 60 persons and using video projection was created in what had previously been the balcony bar area. This opened on 10th May 1981 and continued until closing in 1993 when the Dutch firm Bembom Brothers took over the running of the cinema and amusement park.
The two cinemas remained open in the former circle area and were operated by the small Independent chain Reeltime Cinemas. Sadly they were closed on 1st November 2007 following closure of the bingo club operation in the former stalls area earlier in the year.
Restoration of the exterior began in February 2011 and repairs to the building followed in June 2011. Restoration of the exterior was completed in summer of 2017 and yellow neon has been installed to highlight the building.
In 1992, Dreamland Cinema was designated a Grade II Listed building by English Heritage. In early-May 2008, the building was upgraded to Grade II* Listed.
In March 2022 planning permission was granted to remove the original ‘Dreamland’ signage from the exterior of the building for it to be temporarily replaced by the name ‘Empire’. This was due to the building being featured as a location for the filming of “Empire of Light” directed by Sam Mendes. Some scenes were also filmed in the interior where other small temporary changes were made. Filming was completed on 15th May 2022 and all original fittings and signage were fully re-installed.
The cinema had been earmarked for £4million under the £22.2m Margate Town Deal fund but in February new Dreamland majority owners LN_Gaiety announced they would not be accepting the funding and would carry out their own plans for the site.
The £4m has now been reallocated to the Margate Winter Gardens project.
