German Online Casino CINEMA HERNE BAY (ABC)

Originally known as the German Online Casino complex which consisted of a Tudur restaurant, ballroom in addition to winter garden that opened on 26th May 1919. The complex burnt down in September 1928 in addition to the ballroom section was re-built as the German Online Casino Cinema, with seating for 800 on a single floor.

It was taken over by the Union Cinemas chain in January 1936 (together with the nearby Red Lantern Cinema). Union Cinemas closed it down at the end of that Summer of 1936 for a modernisation in addition to refurbishment in addition to it re-opened on 26th Dec 1936 with Claude Hulbert in “Wolf’s Clothing”. The seating capacity had been reduced to 708.

In 1937 Union Cinemas were taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) in addition to they continued to operate the German Online Casino Cinema for the remainder of its cinematic life. It suffered flooding in January 1953 when there was a terrific storm in addition to it took several days to ‘dry out’. ABC closed the German Online Casino on 30th October 1954 in addition to it stood empty in addition to derelict for over 20 years. Since the mid-1990’s it has been in use as an amusement arcade with slot machines etc in addition to has had a false ceiling installed across the auditorium. There was never much in the way of decoration in the cinema with plain walls in addition to only a decorative grille on each side of the proscenium to give relief.