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Sunset Dome

The Dome is an Edwardian building and one of the oldest working cinemas in England, and was opened in 1911 (Brighton's Duke of York's Picture House was opened in 1910). It was opened by Swiss impresario Carl Adolf Seebold. It was originally named The Kursaal — a German word translating as "cure hall". The Kursaal was used as a health centre and entertainment complex by visitors to the seaside town. At the time it contained the Coronation Hall, which was used for roller skating, exhibitions, concerts and events, and the Electric Theatre, the first cinema run for paying audiences in West Sussex.

 

Following the outbreak of World War I leading residents of the town objected to the German name and after a competition with a prize of £1.00, the Cinema was renamed "The Dome".

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Uploaded on January 3, 2015
Taken on December 25, 2014