Orion Cinema in Dereham turns 100 this month

The Orion Cinema, in Dereham, opened on November 17, 1924, with a showing of Long Live the King, a silent movie about a young prince who runs away from his family.

A pamphlet announcing the opening of the Exchange Theatre in 1924 (Image: Gordon Olley)

More recent highlights at the Market Place venue have included visits from Prince Harry, another royal who opted for life away his regal upbringing, as well as his older brother and future king, William.

The building itself was built in 1857 and served as the town's corn hall and meeting place until it was converted into a 700 seat cinema.

In the 1960s, the premises underwent a major refit with the installation of a floor and a bingo hall.

Orion Cinema when it was the Corn Hall in 1920 (Image: Gordon Olley) In 1992, businessman Trevor Wicks took over and renamed it Hollywood Cinema. 

Prince William's visit was in 2003, when he and friends went to see the final instalment of Lord of the Rings.

In 2019, the venue became Orion Cinema after Hollywood Cinema went into administration.

Dereham photographer Gordon Olley has been visiting the cinema since he was  a young boy and met his wife of 60 years there.

The couple saw A Hard Day's Night in 1964 and Mr Olley recreated the date with a private viewing of the same film for their 50th anniversary. 

Gordon Olley and his wife, Mary, at Orion Cinema in Dereham celebrating their 50th anniversary (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014) Mr Olley, who has been archiving the cinema's history, still believes Dereham's venue is better than others in Norfolk.

He said: "The screens are smaller so the pixels are better.

"I remember when they used to show the same film on repeat and my mum would drop me off around 2pm and then pick me up at 10pm. 

"The cinema was everyone's meeting place but so much of that has changed now." Orion Cinema turns 100 this month (Image: Gordon Olley) Mr Olley said: "There's Netflix and Amazon Prime now but it's just not the same.

"If you go to the cinema, you become part of the film but now you're missing out on that experience."