Report - DreamLand Cinema/Arcade Margate April 2014

[Wevsky]

First saw this in 2010 from Obscurity and co when it was still very fresh and had power on and at the time didnt know the guys that well as i was a Noob so didnt get chance to see it,it has been looked after of sorts and work to the roof was carried out 3 odd years ago.Squatters have had their way with the place which im assuming had something to do with access.After 4 odd years of battles over ownership etc things have finally been settled and various groups are involved to get the whole complex up and running again in all its glory!!

Thanks to the guy who posted the pics on the facebook group for the mutually beneficial chat.

Explored with Obscurity,UrbanGinger & Spaceinvader


Brief bit of history..

On 25 April 2008 the Dreamland Cinema had its Listed building status increased from Grade II (buildings of special architectural or historic interest) to Grade II* (particularly significant buildings of more than local interest). The Cinema, which featured a Compton theatre organ,no longer operates after it was closed in 2007 following the opening of a new multiplex cinema at Westwood Cross.

How the place looked 4 years ago


http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/theatres-cinemas/50387-dreamland-cinema-may-2010-a.html

Entrance to the screens

Few from the bingo hall

Behind the stage in bingo area

And the Not quite so grand as 4 years ago compton organ

Sorry its a lot of images..but there is so much in there to see and even though ive spent a fair while walking round all the side rooms and below to the strong room etc i didnt take half as many pics as i could have and tried to keep the numbers down for the report

 

[Muttley]

That's banging!

Saw one of these HERE this week!

 

[Ojay]

shit derp this Wevsky :

 

[Wevsky]

Should be all up and running if the guys doing it up get it sorted,think the rest of the site has priority tho

 

[projectionman]

excellent pics there mate especially of the westar and projectors and remains of the cakestand on the floor also the 13,000 ft tower spools ive worked with all this type of equipment

 

[Wevsky]

you had me right up until projectors

 

[projectionman]

the film projector is a westar 35mm projector and the cakestand was used to run the film off onto the projector also the big spools were used to hold a full feature film ha ha

 

[Wevsky]

the film projector is a westar 35mm projector and the cakestand was used to run the film off onto the projector also the big spools were used to hold a full feature film ha ha

yeah i kinda got where you was coming from ..to be honest for me it was seeing the compton ,and getting in somewhere i used to go as a kid

 

[slayaaaa]

Nice one mate, especially love that organ shot, you got that one great with the lens! Enjoyed your report, thanks for sharing!

 

[projectionman]

we have one of those compton organs in our local super cinema the plaza in stockport which is still in use

 

[Wevsky]

we have one of those compton organs in our local super cinema the plaza in stockport which is still in use

Think this precise one is one of a kind?may have read that wrong but if not then its one of two ever built

 

[darbians]

Nice one, that last organ shots a beauty.

 

[crazyjonhere]

Wow nice report but someone should save that organ if its like you say one of two made it should be out of there and being reused somewhere

 

[Wevsky]

Wow nice report but someone should save that organ if its like you say one of two made it should be out of there and being reused somewhere

there has been a lot of agro over who owns the site,and as i assume someone from the trust pointed out on the fb group under this linked post ,someone left the door unlocked,squatters got in and things got worse inisde.But things are moving in the right direction

 

[crazyjonhere]

there has been a lot of agro over who owns the site,and as i assume someone from the trust pointed out on the fb group under this linked post ,someone left the door unlocked,squatters got in and things got worse inisde.But things are moving in the right direction

We had one just like that one in a cinema that had been turned into a bingo here in Plymouth apparently the organ had been hidden under the floor in its raising elevation pit for 40 years Rick Wakeman & Peter Hammond saved that one they even got it playing as well after 40 years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOK8PU9Eji8