Rex Cinema
Farnborough Road & Kingsmead,
Farnborough,
GU14 7SJ
Farnborough Road & Kingsmead,
Farnborough,
GU14 7SJ
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Classic Cinemas (UK), County Cinemas Ltd., Odeon Theatres Ltd., Rank Organisation
Architects: David Evelyn Nye
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
Located in the the town centre of Farnborough, Hampshire. The Rex Cinema was built by the County Cinemas chain and opened on 25th September 1937 with Jessie Matthews in “Gangway”. Jessie Matthews and her film star husband Sony Hale appeared ‘in person’. Seating was provided for 828 in the stalls and 390 in the circle.
In September 1939, County Cinemas were taken over by the Oscar Deutsch chain of Odeon Theatres Ltd., but the Rex Cinema was never re-named Odeon.
It was sold to the Classic Cinemas chain on 3rd December 1967, again retaining its ‘Rex’ name. The Rex Cinema operated as a mainstream cinema, but became a part-time bingo club on certain nights of the week, and on Wednesdays it operated as a Tatler Cinema Club screening uncensored sex films. By 1972, the Rex Cinema was screening films in the afternoons, and was on bingo every evening a the Vogue Bingo Club. By 1973, bingo had taken over completely, although the Saturday morning children’s film show continued.
It was closed in the mid-1970’s, and was demolished. The Kingsmead Shopping Centre and Kingsmead House now stands on the site.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
A picture of the Rex in either late 1942 or early 1943.
New picture of the Rex prior to demolition
Photo of the auditorium of the Rex added under the photo tab
Photo of the foyer uploaded
On bingo nights, Classic operated this venue under it’s Vogue Bingo & Social Club name.