Plaza Cinema

Up until 1957, the Plaza competed with another cinema in Dorchester, the Palace in Durngate Street. This cinema seated 400 patrons in stalls and circle and was presenting the town with film entertainment as early as 1911 when it was known as the Dorchester Electric Picturedrome. It was renamed as the Palace in 1920 when Mr Albany Ward acquired the site. Mr Ward owned several cinemas in Dorset including another Palace in the Easton district of Portland.

By the 1930's, the Gaumont British Corporation took over the Dorchester Palace and they ran it until it finally closed on 6 May 1957. The final film starred Van Johnson in KELLY AND ME.

The Freehold on the Plaza cinema site has been put up for sale by the owners. However, the independent operating company has a lease on the building and has given assurances that the cinema will carry on showing films for at least another two years.

The development at the Old Brewery site in Dorchester includes plans for a brand new three-screen cinema with an outdoor screening area, which is due to be up and running within the next two years.

Here is a photo of the Plaza Cinema.

The Plaza cinema seems to have changed hands but I have not been able to find any news stories in the local press. The cinema is no longer listed on Reeltime's (who have owned the Plaza since 1991) website but a new site has appeared advertising film showing times at the venue. The company calls itself The Picturedrome Electric Theatre Company Limited.

The Plaza was taken over in October last year by the same people who took over the running of the Picturedrome Cinema in Bognor Regis. A major restoration project is on the cards for the Plaza and according to the local press, the main screen has already been redecorated and fitted with brand new seating. Later in the year the foyer looks set to be given an overhaul and it is possible that a third screen will be added to the existing twin-screen cinema site in Trinity Street at some time in the future.

The Plaza Cinema reopened as a twin screen cinema on 26 January 1975. The films shown were THE STING and the James Bond film, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.

Photo taken in September 2009:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3946792565_3cec160efb_b.jpg

They are currently beginning to build 2 new screens at the Plaza, in the long - disused bingo hall. Fingers-crossed they should open in the Summer, just before the new 3 screen 'good quality' cinema in Brewery Square (less than 1/2 mile away) will open its doors.

3D HAS ARRIVED IN DORCHESTER!!
The Plaza Now has the ability to show 3D films.
Upcoming 3D film 'ALICE IN WONDERLAND IN 3D' from 5 March.
They alredy had an NEC 2K DLP Digital Projector, but i am not sure if this is the projector that will be used for 3D. Probably, though, as this was the only Digital Projector which they had, i'm not sure if they have any more now.

Only one of the 2 new screens is to open in the summer (fingers-crossed) - the 4th screen to follow. The bingo hall is all cleared out and ready to go however.

And yes, it is the NEC 2K DLP Digital projector that they are using for 3D - they have the XPAND 3D system (I visted the projection room recently - March 2010).