Carl Adolf Seebold
Encyclopedia
Carl Adolf Seebold was a Swiss impressario who commissioned and ran the Dome Cinema in the English coastal town of Worthing
in West Sussex
.
Swiss-born Seebold was the son of a rope manufacturer from Zürich
. The father fell on hard times and turned to entertainment, playing the guitar and singing, to support a large family of nine sons and four daughters. A violinist, Seebold became leader of his family's Swiss band, the Chamounix
Orchestra in 1897. The Orchestra toured widely and were invited to play before many of the royal households of Europe. They were invited to England by Sir Alfred Butt
, appearing at The Crystal Palace
, Queen's Hall
and various resorts, including Worthing.
Between 1900 and 1903, Seebold and his family had been lessees at Southend Pier
.
In October 1904, Seebold settled in Worthing, and was the proprietor of the town's New Theatre Royal in Bath Place. He lived at Bedford House, on the town's seafront. In 1909 Seebold built the entertainment centre known as the Kursaal (later the Dome) in the lawns of Bedford House. Seebold later moved out of Bedford House to 52 Richmond Road in Worthing.
In 1924, Seebold opened the Rivoli cinema, also in Worthing
and in 1926 he acquired a rival cinema, the Picturedrome
. In 1949, Seebold founded The Rivoli and Dome Ltd and married for a second time.
Seebold died in 1951.
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
.
Swiss-born Seebold was the son of a rope manufacturer from Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. The father fell on hard times and turned to entertainment, playing the guitar and singing, to support a large family of nine sons and four daughters. A violinist, Seebold became leader of his family's Swiss band, the Chamounix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
Orchestra in 1897. The Orchestra toured widely and were invited to play before many of the royal households of Europe. They were invited to England by Sir Alfred Butt
Alfred Butt
Sir Alfred Butt, 1st Baronet was a British theatre entrepreneur, Conservative politician and racehorse owner and breeder...
, appearing at The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
, Queen's Hall
Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect T.E. Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. From 1895 until 1941, it was the home of the promenade concerts founded by Robert...
and various resorts, including Worthing.
Between 1900 and 1903, Seebold and his family had been lessees at Southend Pier
Southend Pier
Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. Sir John Betjeman once said that "the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier". The pier is a Grade II listed building....
.
In October 1904, Seebold settled in Worthing, and was the proprietor of the town's New Theatre Royal in Bath Place. He lived at Bedford House, on the town's seafront. In 1909 Seebold built the entertainment centre known as the Kursaal (later the Dome) in the lawns of Bedford House. Seebold later moved out of Bedford House to 52 Richmond Road in Worthing.
In 1924, Seebold opened the Rivoli cinema, also in Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
and in 1926 he acquired a rival cinema, the Picturedrome
Connaught Theatre
The Connaught Theatre is a Streamline Moderne-style theatre in the centre of Worthing, in West Sussex, England. Built as the Picturedrome cinema in 1914, the venue was extended in 1935 and became the new home of the Connaught Theatre . The theatre houses touring West End theatre productions,...
. In 1949, Seebold founded The Rivoli and Dome Ltd and married for a second time.
Seebold died in 1951.