Odeon Sheffield

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Flat Street

, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom S1 1NN

(map)

01142729448

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Deco

Function:	Bingo Hall
Seats:	2319
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Robert Bullivant, Harry W. Weedon
Firm:	Unknown

Construction work began in March 1939 on a new Odeon Theatre for the Oscar Deutsch chain Odeon Theatres Ltd. Plans from architects Harry Weedon and W. Calder Robson had been approved for a 2,326 seat cinema with shops and an office block. The main steelwork was in place when war was declared and construction was halted.

After the war ended building work re-commenced, but the plans had been re-drawn by architects Harry Weedon and Robert Bullivant for a 2,319 seat cinema without the shops and office block.

The Odeon opened on 16th July 1956. Seating was provided for 1,505 in the stalls and 814 in the balcony. Lighting in the auditorium was via three rows of light fittings hanging close to the ceiling and from concealed lights in the two decorative panels each side of the proscenium opening.

The Odeon was equipped to screen films in the Todd-AO process and "South Pacific" and "Cleopatra" had long runs here. "The Sound of Music" was the last film to be screened at the Odeon and after running for 14 months it closed the cinema on 5th June 1971. From September 1971 it re-opened as a Top Rank Bingo Hall. It was later re-named Mecca and operates today as a Mecca Bingo Hall.

Contributed by KenRoe

YOUR COMMENTS

An exterior photograph of the Odeon in December 1957:
http://www.mawgrim.sathosting.net/cavalcade/sheffieldo2.jpg

A photograph in the final weeks before closing;Summer 1971:
http://www.mawgrim.sathosting.net/cavalcade/sheffieldo.jpg

As the Mecca Bingo Club, 3 photographs taken in June 2004. Note the original 1956 safety railings still in place in front of the entrance, which can be seen more clearly on the 1957 photo above:
http:www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/cinemas/cinepho8.html

posted by KenRoe on Dec 20, 2005 at 5:15am

OOoops sorry, here is that last link again:
http://www.rocknroll.force9.co.uk/cinemas/cinepho8.html

posted by KenRoe on Dec 20, 2005 at 5:18am

Exterior shot of the Odeon as a bingo hall here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/340783643/

posted by Ian on Jan 1, 2007 at 5:10am

Two internal pictures here from 1988 as a bingo hall-

Former screen end:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373390842/

Circle area:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373390839/

posted by Ian on Jan 29, 2007 at 6:03am

Actually the last films were "Carry on Doctor" and "Carry on Up the Khyber". The "Sound of Music" played from Autumn 1965 (It followed "Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines") to late-1966. Other roadshows after this were "Khartoum" and "The Bible" both in 1967 and "Star" and "Oliver" both in 1968. The Odeon lost its roadshow status when the Gaumont opened as a twin cinema in 1969 but it still showed main stream films as both Gaumonts operated a roadshow policy until summer 1970.

posted by chriso on Apr 28, 2008 at 1:49am

'The Sound Of Music' opened at the Odeon Sheffield on Sunday 3rd October 1965 and ran until February 1967. 'Khartoum' immediately replaced it.Other films shown on a Road Show basis after 'Sound Of Music' to those already mentioned by Chriso were 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', 'Doctor Dolittle', 'Custer of the West',and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. Two TODD AO films were also brought back for one week runs - 'Oklahoma!' and 'South Pacific'. The support with 'Oklahoma!' was 'The Miracle Of TODD AO'.

abcman

posted by Richard Roper on Sep 19, 2008 at 3:47pm

Here are more interior photos:

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

posted by Lost Memory on Oct 8, 2008 at 4:31pm

Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!

Search

Theater Guide

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Newest Theaters

Recent Comments

Updated Theaters

Odeon Sheffield

YOUR COMMENTS

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?