GOSPORT CLOUD

As it was with all towns, the arrival of cinema was a whirlwind. Music halls, that had once been the stalwarts of entertainment had a new competitor, the Silverscreen. Enthralled by this compelling invention the crowds swelled, the demand became infectious, the film industry invested heavily to meet the never ending demand. High streets witnessed the construction of palacial buildings, with padded seating. Each boasted a grand entrance to attract the most clients. With in a few years the film industry had changed the appearance of every town throughout the country.
Gosport was no different, it boasted the contstruction of six known cinemas. Each with a story of its own, yet the wheels of history continued to turn, what was once loved by the public, became unwanted, unloved, uncherished, unusable and unprofitable in a world that was moving on.
Leaving them abandoned to the past, like an egyptian sarcophaus, most were eventually demolished or left to perish, leaving hardly a trace of their very existence. Later generations, never knowing, the treasure and game changer that the lonely old derelict building had once been.
The fortunate few, found an extra life as bingo halls, yet, even those days were numbered due to the cost of maintaining the buildings.

Cinemas, offered more than a film experience, sharing news events from around the world. During WW2 they were used for informing the public of news from the front and also safety measures, such as how to use a gas mask or grow vegetables in the times of food rationing.

There is a good bet that your parents first date was probably in a cinema.

The Forum Cinema, Located on the corner of Stoke road and Shaftsbury road. Designed with a roman theme, sporting motiffs on the wall of roman emperors. Opening their doors before the second world war 1939. Eventually closing their doors mid 50's. Converting to a petrol station and car sales, giving the building an extended life. Eventually it was demolished to make way for the Waitrose store, which opened in July 1973. The Forum also hosted theatre and pantomime. Sadly as with all cinemas, finally closing it's doors in 1981.
Here is a link to an ITV mini documentry concerning the Forum cinema. This is a classic snippet of film that covers everything that a cinema offered. The Forum Documentry

The Critereon Cinema. Still gracing the Crossways. The architecture easily displays it's original purpose. Opening their doors in May 1912. Serving Gosports public until 1968, it was then bought out and had an active life as a bingo hall. Sadly the Covid pandemic put full stop to any future use. It was due to close in 2020 anyway. My thoughts, this will most likely end up as a housing development. However it does hold the distinction of being the last cinema in Gosport.
Update: mid-summer 2022: The owners applied to demolish and replace the cinema with apartments. Since then Gosport Council is arranging finance to take ownership. The intention is then to create a small business centre. The latest development, Gosport Council is in process to arrange finances to purchase this property.
Planning is in progress to turn it into a business centre or a nightclub, returning it to a bingo hall. This is a controversial subject at the moment. We will see!

The Ritz, languishing in the pages of history. Yet The Ritz is the most memorable icon of Gosport for most of us today. I personally remember watching 'Enter the Dragon' along with my then girlfriend Jane Ford. Opening its doors early 1935. It supposedly had the largest screen on the south coast.
In 1941 during the second world war it was heavily damaged during a bombing raid, forcing it to close. Re-building and then re-opening in 1958. This was the beginning of the good times, never before had cinemas been so busy. Inclusive of a Saturday morning club, which is probably remembered and cherished, by anyone over the age of 50. Occasionally stage and variety acts were hosted, yet these cinemas live a tumultus life and once again closing in October 82, re-opening again in 1985 after a change of management. Finally closing its doors in 1999 and sadly demolished in 2012.
Video of the Ritz re-opening in the 80's

The Olympia. Located at the corner of Stoke road shopping parade and Queen street. The Art Deco architecture of Portland Buildings enhanced the cinema entrance, yet behind the entrance was a tin sheet roof. Originally it was constructed in 1911, but not as a cinema, wait for it ... a roller skate rink !
In 1912 it changed focus to cash in to the new rage, cinemas.   It finally closed between 1937-38, becoming a warehouse. Later it was demolished and sadly no evidence of it's existence is on show today.

Gosport Theatre located at No 117a High Street. This had a rather mixed  journey, with a numerous owners and changes of use . Originally constructed as a church, shortly after changed ownership to become a theatre.
Stage amd variety acts and films was the entertainment of the day. This closed in 1930. Re-opening early 1931, now as a full screen cinema.
Re-designed by the London architect Robert Briggs, who also by chance designed the Edinburgh Empire theatre. It finally closed the doors in 1938. The time, effort and money that was spent on this project was probably immense.

Lee Tower. Lee on Solent hosted a cinema that stood out amongst any other, styled using white art deco architecture and a location that no other could compete with. This surely could of been in Las Vegas ! Opening doors in 1935. Boasting a 120ft tower. Additions were an onsite cafe with access to the pier at the rear.
Closed in 1940, due to World War 2, requisitioned by the MOD. The tower being a a great lookout tower. Shortly after the ending of the war, the cinema re-opened the doors. Eventually trends change,cinema audiences were getting smaller, the Tower cinema began to run at a loss. Eventually forcing the council to close it.  A new commercial lease of life was created when it became a bowling alley and a bar called the Buccaneer, which was popular for a while. Yet even these attempts to find a suitable use failed. Time is no friend to an unused building, it became a burden with the upkeep of the fabric of the building, leading to the closure and eventually demolition in 1968.

It would be difficult to pinpoint what the failures of the cinemas actually was. There were so many factors. The trend in films becoming longer did not help, with some epic films now hitting the 2-3 hour showing time, the cinema could not offer a matinee performance.
Was it that people now had colour television, broadcasting more and more films on TV? Or perhaps it was that cinemas were the same as when they first opened their doors and looked completely worn out and outdated.
Whatever the case, they will always have a place in tha annals of history as momuments that shaped town high streets.