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Gaiety cinema

History notes
By John Blackwell,

The Gaiety Cinema opened on 24th April 1937. It was constructed to serve the rapidly expanding housing estates of northern Brighton. Situated at the junction of Hollingdean and Lewes Roads, next to the Allen Arms (now The Counting House) public house, it covered the site now occupied by the Vogue gyratory road system.

The cinema had a 15m (50ft) neon lit façade, that was particularly effective at night. It seated 1,400 with the car park, a reflection of increasing car ownership, now covered by Sainsbury's.

Programmes changed twice weekly with an 'A' and 'B' film, the main and supporting feature, plus a newsreel and a short documentary; a real evening out.

With the spread of television in the sixties, audiences declined and so did the Gaiety. Following a change of name to the Vogue, live striptease and sex films were shown in the early seventies but this could not avert closure in 1979 and demolition in 1983

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

My own father, Herbert Hobden, now 89 and still living in Brighton, managed the Gaiety cinema from 1959 to 1967.
By Alan Hobden (22/08/2004)
I remember seeing all of the Cliff Richard films at this cinema. My Nan lived in Hartington Road and a Saturday visit to her quite often had a trip down the road to the Gaiety.
By Pam Pantzer (20/05/2005)
The Gaiety cinema evokes many memories for me. During the 1950s I went every Saturday afternoon without fail. It cost 9d to get in, a large amount when I only received 1/- a week pocket money. A friend's father started to take us, but when we were older a small crowd of friends would meet and go together. If we didn't bus there we would have a few pence to spend in the sweet shop in the cottage at Pope's Folly. The Gaiety was quite grand and imposing, I suppose it had Art Deco features although I didn't realise it at the time. Like all cinemas at that time it gave good value for money. Two films, cartoons and the Pathe news were watched with fascination, only one of the group had a television at home. The films were shown continuously and you were never asked to leave after the film finished. We'd arrive at any time convenient to us and just sit there until we recognised the film being repeated. There was a back entrance in Hollingdean Road that some of the boys would sneak through when a friend opened the fire door from the inside. I never had the nerve to do this, as I feared the consequences if my parents found out. The usherettes did a good job of supervising the crowds and there was never any trouble there with the young people. I was very sad when the Gaiety closed, although I had moved on from the Saturday afternoon pictures by then. When visiting Sainsburys I often think of what used to be there. I have a picture of the Gaiety as it was in the 1930s and would be interested in interviewing the ex-manager if that is possible.
By Jacqueline Pollard (02/06/2005)

I worked at the 'Vogue' as a projectionist from 1974 until it's closure. It was owned at that time by the 'classic' Cinema Group which also ran the 'Classic' cinema in western road, now 'Waitrose' where I also worked. I learnt my trade at the cinema, and am currently at the 'Duke Of York' cinema in Preston Circus.

By Jimmy Anderson (05/02/2007)

I grew up in Dewe Road and went to the Gaiety on many occasions. I remember being taken by my mother to see Cliff Richard in "The Young Ones" after school one afternoon. I also remember seeing some Carry On films there and also the Beatles' films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help".

By Pat Mounce (07/02/2007)

How well I remember ,as a child,the Gaiety Cinema with great affection in the 1956 -1959 era.What great value with two films, sometimes one being an Edgar Lusgerton film detailing great crimes of the time.How good were the surroundings of the cinema and going upstairs was a real treat.I especially remember the sofas one could sit in whilst waiting for the film to end before going in. I recall having to ask an adult to take us in if an A film was being shown, something that would not even be entertained these days.

By Dave Collins 24/09/07 (24/09/2007)

I am sure this cinema was also called Ace at one time. Am I right? It would have been in the early 70s I think.

By Maggie Williams (15/01/2008)

Being raised in a childrens home in Freshfield Road, the pictures was a wonderful escape most Saturdays and The Gaiety was one of those. It was quite a long walk there and back and in the 50s it cost nine pence of my 10 pence pocket money but was well worth it. I was very sorry when it was demolished.

By Chris Troak (nee Morane) (20/01/2008)

The Gaiety..Fantastic place. I used to go down there on the 149a bus with my mates from Moulscoomb. It was around a shilling to get in, 5p today. It was the first cinema I went to. Sink The Bismark. My dad took me back in the early 1960s, it was the first of many films I saw there. If you look there now the only remaining part of it that's left is the wall with the paintings on, part of the counting house, it ran on the inside of the cinema entrance up to the doors that led inside the auditorium. So the sceen room would now be in the middle of the road outside Sainsburys car park entrance. Paradise Lost!

By Martin Phillips (22/02/2008)

I would just like to agree with Maggie Williams' entry, that yes the Gaiety was also called "Ace" before it was called the Vougue Cinema. It certainly brings back memories to me as it was local to me living in Hollingdean.  It did indeed cost 9d to watch a film and for that 9d, you got a supporting film to boot, along with God Save the Queen at the end! It was the first cinema I ever went to. My mother worked there for quite a time as an usherette when it was the Gaiety, and it was a wondeful cinema. I saw great films such as the Beatles' "Help" and "Polyanna". It's a shame that it no longer exists!

By Debbie Cheal (19/05/2008)

I once threw up at a Beatles film. I was young and ill, rather than due to the content of the film. I also saw Zulu there and that film seemed to always be on.

By Ken Valder (09/09/2008)

I saw the Sound of Music there in around 1965 with my Nan Connie Long (Nee Granger). It is still my favourite film and brings back fond memories of my Nan.
I also used to go to Saturday morning pictures there and remember one morning a rather rude film being put on by mistake to the amusement of a large group of ten year olds.

By Paul Hubbard (04/11/2008)

We lived at 98a Lewes Road, where I was born, and my Mum was an usherette at the Gaiety. From 1960 onward I remember being taken there by my big sister Stephanie, often twice a week! This was because Dad was a shift worker, and was asleep during the day, and as a noisy three/four-year-old, it was the only way they could get some peace! We also used to use the emergency exit from the car park, where we would also play. It was a huge area, and was covered in sticks of carbon from Cox's Pill Factory. Sheer heaven!

By Penny Hajduk (04/01/2009)

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