Continentale Cinema

Converted from a Congregational chapel in the early-1920’s, it was originally a silent cinema known as the Sudeley Place Picture House. It was later to be known as the Kingscliff Picture House. Sound (British Thompson Houston) was installed in 1930 by the owner - Mrs Fellows who was also the proprietor of the Tivoli Cinema in Western Road, Hove at this time. There were 380 seats and the proscenium width was 6.40 metres.

On Friday 31st October 1947 the Playhouse Theatre opened with a production of “Viceroy Sarah”, the Kingscliff Picture House having been reconstructed to house stage productions. The theatre was run by Playhouse Productions Ltd. run by Bray Wyndham. Weekly repertory was presented with performances each evening (except Sunday) at 7.45 pm. and a Saturday matinee at 5.00 pm. It was stated that a co-operative spirit was to be fostered and that new actors and playwrights given a chance. Prices ranged from 2/- to 4/10d.

In 1948 on a Sunday evening in the theatre the Playhouse Theatre Club was formed with over one hundred members with the aim of creating an enthusiastic body of playgoers who could meet the cast an exchange points of view with all those concerned with the play itself. Target membership was three to four thousand. A small annual subscription gave members access to the meetings and a small discount on ticket prices. At the end of May admission charges were reduced to 2/-to 4/6d - about half the cost of going to the Dolphin.

In the Gazette of 5th June 1948 was a front page headline “Playhouse may have to close” followed by a report that if attendances did not double in size in the next couple of weeks the theatre would have to close. The report acknowledged the remarkable amount of work which had been put in to make the venture a success. The Playhouse was a professional company and a commercial concern and received no backing from the Arts Council.

Within a few weeks things had improved, an appeal for £1,000 to keep the theatre going raised over £100 in the first week, membership of the Playhouse Theatre Club rose significantly, and box office receipts also improved. The management had stated that if the theatre could fill two thirds of its seats each week then it would make a profit of between 20 and 50 Pounds.

In September rumours of closure after the 40th production (“Almost A Honeymoon”) were denied. The theatre did close for a late summer break on llth September but reopened the winter season on llth October. Two seats for the price of one on Monday nights was introduced in this winter season, as were foreign films on Sundays starting with “Les Disparus de St. Acil” on the 5th December. Twice daily performances of “Treasure Island” was the Christmas attraction taking the theatre into 1949. Then rather quietly the last performance by the Playhouse Repertory Company was given on the 26th March 1949 “The Younger Greysmith” and from the following Monday the building became known as the Picture Playhouse with purely screen entertainment, later in the year it became the Metro Cinema.

Over sixty productions had been staged at the Playhouse in a period of under eighteen months. Most were just for one weeks duration but the longest run was achieved at Christmas 1947 when “Ambrose Applejohns Adventure” lasted from Boxing Day until the 10th January. The standard was not uniformly high, but the Playhouse achieved many excellent reviews in the local press during its period of operation and seems to have deserved better success.

The Miles Byrne circuit took over the cinema in 1949 and it became the Continentale Cinema. Let to George Fernie and family - George acting as projectionist, proprietor and commissionaire, Mrs Sue Fernie was the cashbox girl, personnel officer and part time usherette whilst Miss Ellen Fernie was in charge of sweets and cigarettes! Always regarded as a cold and draughty cinema, the Continentale Cinema tried to alter its image in January 1953 by installing a new infra red heating system. Adverts boasted that it was ‘just like standing in the sun’!

Upon George Fernies death in 1965 Miles Byrne returned as Managing Director and a small refurbishment was carried out. Sex films became the order of the day. In 1986 a major renovation was carried out with new screen, new seating in the circle and new carpeting inside and, at a cost of £5,000 complete redecoration outside. A new policy was also announced of serious art-films and general second run features with the erotic art restricted to the afternoons. However just a few months later Miles Byrne died and the cinema was almost immediately closed. The last films - an erotic double bill - were “Sexy Couriers” and “Off Duty Pleasures” which were screened in December 1986.

It had been up for sale for many months with a price tag of around £150,000 - with arguments over its future raging. Locals want it to remain as a cinema / theatre / community centre, the National Youth Theatre expressed an interest in purchasing it as a base for its theatrical ventures, when it was acquired with planning permission for replacement with three town houses by developers.

Subsequently, the building was completely gutted and four houses constructed within the shell of the old building.

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