Dover’s first large modern cinema,
the Granada, opened on 8 January 1930 in
Castle
Street. The publicity said that it could seat
2,000, although the true figure was around 1,700.
The interiors were designed by the Russian born designer
Theodore Komisarjevsky, who went on to design many
other cinemas in the Granada chain. The foyer was
in a French eighteenth century style with a marble
staircase, chandelier, and Venetian mirrors, while
the auditorium was had a Spanish-Moorish theme.
As well as films the programmes included variety acts
and the stage was provided with curtains, footlights,
dimmers and a modern stage lighting switchboard. The
was also an organ on a lift placed in the centre of
the orchestra pit.
The Granada was bought by the ABC cinema chain in
1935 and continued to flourish. In 1960 it was renamed
the ABC but many old Dovorians always referred to
it as the Granada. Also in 1960 the organ was removed
and later sold to a cinema organ enthusiast.
Audiences began to decline steadily as more and more
people stayed at home to watch television. In 1971,
with the closure of the
Odeon,
it became Dover’s last remaining cinema (the Gaumont
and Essoldo both having closed in 1960). In spite
of its now unique position, audiences continued to
decline. In the early 1970s the circle was closed
leaving just 610 seats in the stalls to cater for
the remaining customers. The cinema eventually ceased
to be economically viable and closed on 30 October
1982. The building was converted into a night club
but this closed and now the building is derelict,
a sad fate for this once splendid Picture Palace.
