THE LUXOR CINEMA, LANCING re-visited

Jack Gaston de Coninck M.B.K.S.

 

Last year I was invited to attend an organ recital at the Singing Hills Golf Club, Albourne, near Brighton, where two WurliTzers had recently been installed. I readily accepted this kind offer and decided to travel via Worthing and Lancing so that I could go and see both the Dome Kinema and the Luxor.

In Worthing my friend Beck Parsons wanted to look at the Plaza Cinema. This typical 1930s building had been converted into luxury apartments. Completely unbeknown to me was the fact that Beck had been a projectionist there in the 1930s, whilst I had been working as a rewind boy at the RivoIi Cinema. This visit, therefore, evoked many nostalgic memories.

I had applied for a job at the Rivoli just after the outbreak of World War II, and had been interviewed by the owner and manager Mr. Seebold. He said I could have the job of rewind boy at 7/6d a week! This marked the beginning of my career in the fascinating and magical world of films, something I had always wanted to do since the age of thirteen, when I acquired my first home movie projector, a 9.5mm Pathéscope Ace and a Pathé Baby cine camera.

Little did I realise that my very first job working in a cinema would be to clean out the plenum chamber. This chamber was part of the cinema's air conditioning. It was the most frightful and disgusting job I have ever had to do! The whole chamber was thick with dust, fluff and nicotine. It was absolutely horrible. When I went home for lunch my Mother asked me what on earth I had been up to? I had to explain, as that morning I had been kitted out with a clean white shirt and new pair of gray flannels. My Mother was not at all pleased. But whilst doing that filthy job I recalled something my Father once told me, that sometimes new recruits to Woolworth's were given unpleasant tasks to complete. This was to test their moral fibre and attitude, their reactions being carefully monitored. Any who dared complain were thrown out! So I held my tongue and said nothing.

The next morning I was asked by the Chief Projectionist Mr. Pike to check all the seats in the stalls and fix any that were loose. For this job I had to purchase a long-handled screw-driver which cost me 3/9d and I still have today. At the end of my first week Mr. Seebold said I was a good boy and that there was an extra ten bob in my pay packet. I was rich and very glad I had followed my Dad's advice!

The Rivoli is no more, it burnt down and the area became a car park.

Mr. Seebold also owned the Dome Kinema on Worthing's sea front. A marvellous example of 1920s architecture still looking resplendent and a listed building. I was occasionally seconded to the Dome and well remember the back-projection with two Kalee 7 projectors each with a large brass plate in front of the wide angle lenses, operated by a lavatory chain pull, creating a loud clang every time a change over between reels was made!

From Worthing we drove to Lancing. Here, after nearly sixty years, I renewed my acquain-tance with the dear old Luxor. Only the front of the building remains, listed and preserved as an example of the period's architecture.

The Luxor was opened in December 1939, but because of the many war-time building restrictions imposed, it was never properly completed. The flooring for the ballroom, for example, was never laid.

Today the 1000-seat auditorium has been replaced by a block of flats. I was devastated at this discovery as I had spent, from January 1940 until called up into the Royal Navy in August 1943, many happy days working in that splendid modern cinema.

My family had moved to Lancing in December 1938 when the town's only cinema was, at that time, the Regal, Penhill Road. I was aware that a brand new picture house was being built and applied to Mr. Fortescue the owner for a job. The projection room staff had been engaged, however, but a sudden change of staff meant I was offered a job and started there as joint third projectionist. This because the owner did not wish to pay for a second! My colleague was none other than Sydney 'Sammy' Samuelson, now Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE.

The Luxor was probably the best equipped cinema on the south coast at the time. The box was a dream, with Walturdaw Ernemann V projectors with water-cooled gates and high intensity arc lamps imported from Germany just before the war. Western Electric Mirrophonic sound produced quite magnificent quality sound in the well-designed and acoustically-engineered auditorium.

The staff of the Luxor Cinema, Lancing in 1942. The author, as Chief, stands to the right of the easel board. From the author's collection.

 

After working under a number of Chiefs, all called up, I was eventually promoted to the onerous position in 1942. I was now responsible not only for putting on a good show but also had charge of the whole projection suite and the youthful staff. The suite comprised the projection, rewind, rectifier and battery rooms: the latter for the 110 volt secondary lighting.

The Luxor had a splendid stage with the latest Strand Electric lighting system. I loved the live shows and was privileged to stage manage some of them. Many celebrity acts appeared, including Charlie Kunz and the RAF Squadronaires. I was even allowed to put on my own act!

 

The preserved front of the Luxor, Lancing in October 2001. Photograph by author.

 

I was sad to learn that this splendid cinema had become a bingo hall and carpet shop before finally closing. Nevertheless I was glad that I had been given the chance to re-visit the Luxor, the beginning of my film career. But that's another story.