Built for and originally operated by the County Cinemas chain, this opened as the Ritz Cinema. Local architect Albert J. Thraves was also brought in by the main architects Verity & Beverley.
The original auditorium was destroyed in 1964 when the Odeon became the first cinema in the United Kingdom to be split into a twin screen operation. The architectural firm Harry W. Weedon Partnership were responsible for the conversion, with Trevor Stone & Mavis Stone the interior design consultants. It re-opened on 12th July 1965 with two modern curtain walled auditoriums. The upper Odeon 1 in the former circle had 924 seats and was designed as a showcase for roadshow presentations and opened with "The Sound of Music". The Odeon 2 screen in the former orchestra stalls level had 1,450 seats and played regular releases, opening with "Mary Poppins".
Odeon 2 was further sub-divided in 1976 when it was made into 3 screens seating 500, 130 and 110. A new screen, Odeon 5 was fitted into a former basement reception room and had 101 seats. In 1988 another room in the basement was made into Odeon 6 which seated 90 persons.
The Odeon 1 - 6 closed on 26th January 2001 and awaits its fate, possible demolition for the errection of an hotel, apartments, shops and a car park.
here we go, these photos were taken on 2 separate occasions one set in the day and one set at night.
DAY:
starting up high
big fan!!
working our way inside:
behind the shutter on lon row.
now a little night time:
just for you guys thinking of visiting at night, there are other people sleeping in there, so be very quiet, and keep away from the upstairs changing rooms...
.
thats about it folks, hope you enjoy, negitive comment will be learned from & positive excepted...
see you in the dark places
The original auditorium was destroyed in 1964 when the Odeon became the first cinema in the United Kingdom to be split into a twin screen operation. The architectural firm Harry W. Weedon Partnership were responsible for the conversion, with Trevor Stone & Mavis Stone the interior design consultants. It re-opened on 12th July 1965 with two modern curtain walled auditoriums. The upper Odeon 1 in the former circle had 924 seats and was designed as a showcase for roadshow presentations and opened with "The Sound of Music". The Odeon 2 screen in the former orchestra stalls level had 1,450 seats and played regular releases, opening with "Mary Poppins".
Odeon 2 was further sub-divided in 1976 when it was made into 3 screens seating 500, 130 and 110. A new screen, Odeon 5 was fitted into a former basement reception room and had 101 seats. In 1988 another room in the basement was made into Odeon 6 which seated 90 persons.
The Odeon 1 - 6 closed on 26th January 2001 and awaits its fate, possible demolition for the errection of an hotel, apartments, shops and a car park.
here we go, these photos were taken on 2 separate occasions one set in the day and one set at night.
DAY:
starting up high
big fan!!
working our way inside:
behind the shutter on lon row.
now a little night time:
just for you guys thinking of visiting at night, there are other people sleeping in there, so be very quiet, and keep away from the upstairs changing rooms...
thats about it folks, hope you enjoy, negitive comment will be learned from & positive excepted...
see you in the dark places
