Classic Hythe
3 East Street,
Hythe,
CT21 5JS
3 East Street,
Hythe,
CT21 5JS
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., Classic Cinemas (UK), Mecca Leisure Ltd., Union Cinema Co. Ltd.
Architects: Eric Norman Bailey
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Ritz Cinema, Vogue Cinema, Mecca Cinema
Nearby Theaters
Located at the corner of East Street and Prospect Road, Hythe, Kent. The Ritz Cinema was built for Union Cinemas chain and opened on 12th June 1937 with George Formby starring in “Keep Your Seats Please”. The exterior was in red brick and had a plain façade. In the auditorium seating was provided in stalls and a small circle.
It was taken over by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) in October 1937 and was operated by them until it was taken over by an independent operator from 17th March 1953.
It closed in 1965 and went over to use as a bingo hall and Classic Cinemas took control. They divided the circle off and made it into a small 275 seat cinema, renamed the Vogue Cinema which re-opened on 27th April 1971. Mecca Ltd. took over the operation of the bingo section from 15th November 1973 and they continued to operated the cinema section as the Mecca Cinema.
Classic Cinemas had taken control again by 1980 and they re-named it Classic Cinema. It closed on 7th August 1984 screening Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and was demolished and a block of flats named Blythe Court was built on the site.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
The block of flats built on the site of the Ritz/Classic is Blythe Court and was named after the last manager of the Classic – Don Blythe who went on to serve as a Hythe town councillor and also served with me on Shepway District Council.
The facade was arranged so that a possible cafe could be built behind it but alas this never materialised. I have a photo somewhere of this cinema when closed and will upload when I locate it.