Odeon Nottingham
9 Angel Row,
Nottingham,
NG1 6HN
9 Angel Row,
Nottingham,
NG1 6HN
4 people
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Odeon 2 closed from April 13th 1969 for the installation of a new “Cinerama” screen. Similar screens were being installed in other Rank cinemas around this time, including the Astoria Charing Cross Road, the Odeon Merrion Centre, Leeds, the Odeon Market place, Leicester and of course were installed in the upstairs screens during the rebuilding of the Gaumonts Sheffield and Bournemouth. Odeon 2 Nottingham re-opened in June 1969 with a road show run of Ice Station Zebra in 70mm Cinerama.
The Odeon closed for twinning from Tuesday November 17th 1964. The last film presentation was Goldfinger which completed a six week run on Sunday Nov. 15th. On Monday Nov. 16th was a final stage show featuring The Searchers, Dionne Warwick and The Zombies. Less than two weeks earlier, on Thursday November 5th The Beatles had performed to sell out audiences. Rank announced in its advertising that the new twin cinema would open in the spring of 1965, but this target was missed. The reference to automation in the article above refers only to Odeon 2, with its Cinemeccanica projectors. The Phillips DP70s which were retained in Odeon 1 from the old theatre were not able to be automated.
This claimed to be the first automated Cinema per:
July 12th, 1965 grand reopening:
Grand opening ad posed.
The link in goodshow’s post no longer works; however the video can be viewed at:
http://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-05071965-nottingham-cinema
Exactly 50 years ago this fortnight to its original broadcast on ITV television, here’s the link to a mini-video from the archive of the East and West Midlands' universities' media project regarding the then new automatic control system
http://www.macearchive.org/Archive/Title/atv-today-05071965-nottingham-cinema/MediaEntry/10882.html
Nice cinema sad this was 2001.
Link to some pictures.
http://www.urbexforums.com/showthread.php/11524-Nottingham-Odeon-2001
Very sad to see that this has been demolished. I remember being on a behind-the-scenes tour just prior to it opening as a twin screen cinema. I was in my early teens at the time and used to see 2-3 films a week in Nottingham throughout my teens. I’ll always remember the Odeon as being shiny and new. I still remember the projection “suite” with a rotating micro-switch drum to control curtains, lights etc.
After reading the overview and seeing photo’s of screen 1 & 2 it seems strange that “1” was for Roadshows yet the screen in “2” seems to be bigger “image wise”. The same can be said of the old Odeon at Bradford.I saw a photo of the opening films for Nottingham Odeon and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was on in screen “2”, it was shot in Ultra Panavision 70mm.
The bulldozers have started. The Odeon Nottingham shall shortly be no more.
My uncle was the doorman at the odeon in the early 60’s he wore a purple Great coat and cap with gold trim on the shoulders, he let the Beatles out of the back entrance when they played there, and got there autographs, it was to packed With fans at the front door to get there car anywhere near!! Steve notts
Three photos from February 2010 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4355899808/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4355899622/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4355156379/
The Odeon Twin was the subject of an article in the American trade publication Boxoffice Magazine, October 25, 1965. It says that the plans for the 1964-65 rebuilding were made by the architectural firm of Harry W. Weedon and Partners, and the interior design consultants were Trevor Stone and Mavis Stone. Among the photos accompanying the article is one of the marquee displaying the announcement “Grand Opening July 12th.”
I thought it would be of intrest to inform you that plans have been improved for demolition of the building and building of a 3-11 storey office building.
The article is here, but it’s a subscription site. I think the bit that’s shown explains it all.
http://www.regen.net/news/login/871065/
‘Destroyed’? What is it with this veneration for interior design and architecture which even in the 1930’s was viewed by architects as out-of-date and gaudy! No doubt the whole look and feel of theatres like this is fun to recall and interesting, but alternative styles and remodellings that came afterwards were every bit as designed as the original. For some reason the 1930’s seems to have been raised up to the cardinal point about which the whole edifice of cinema history revolves, yet very few people these days ever experienced it – on the contrary, the developments that came after are much more meaningful and equally interesting. This continual running down of anything that didn’t happen in the 30’s (and god forbid took place in the 60’s) is a real turn off. Cinema history itself will be heading the same way as the cinemas if the custodians of this history are not careful…rant over! P.S. When the theatre was being twinned, workmen sat astride the steel roof girders and smashed the ornate plasterwork out with sledgehammers – good riddance: the super-modern sixties replacement was brilliant!
I work in Chapel Quarter (the building that replaced the ABC/Cannon cinema nearby) and noticed a planning application sign outside the old Odeon the other day.
If you search on the Nottingham City Council web-site for application 08/02237/PFUL3, it looks like they’re planning to knock it down and put up a 10-storey office block/shopping development :–(
Shame to lose these old cinemas, as the modern ones like the Cineworld and the Showcase just don’t have the same sense of romanticism. Still, at least we still have the Broadway.
Hello Doug Kelly
I am a student working on and interior design revnovation project of the odeon cinemas on Angel row Nottingham. As the cinema has been closed since 2001 i have found it hard to gain internal access to the site. so if you have any internal footage of the site that would be great if you could pass it on to me. I am also looking for some historical information, uses and any structural information on the building. I would appreciate as much info as possible, so if you see this feel free to contact my email address.Thanks
Lulah ( )
nightime exterior shot i took in 1989
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/731173264/
Two views of the Odeon dating from 1995 here:–
Facade:
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/339726204/
Stagehouse:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/339726201/
I worked as chief pro for Rank Theatre Division in the 1960s. My jobs at the Nottingham twin opening in cluding reaserach and writing the opening programme supplement tracing the history of Notingham cinemas and describing the (then) new “automated twin cinema” concept. This supplement was adapted to form part of an edition of “Showtime” Magazine. I still have both of these. Another job, working with three great fellas from the Nottingham Historic Film Society was to write a treatment and supply footage for a documentary which was used in the opening programmes of both Odeons. A ring-binder still includes my press releases and media cuttings from that occasion. I remember our team from Rank staying at a hotel near or next to the Nottingham Theatre Royal where my cousin (Joan Varcoe)was singing female lead in a Nottingham Operatic Society production – “Brigadoon” I think. Best wishes in your work. Doug Kelly.
The ‘modernised’ facade of the Odeon Nottingham in 1971 here:
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