Odeon Southport
Lord Street,
Southport,
PR9 0AF
Lord Street,
Southport,
PR9 0AF
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A very lavish replacement of the New Palladium Cinema which had been destroyed by fire. This New Palladium Cinema was designed by W. E. Trent and Ernest F. Tulley for Gaumont British Theatres, retaining the original facade, but on an enlarged site. It was situated in fashionable Lord Street and had formerly been a noted cine-variety theatre, and a stage was included in the New Palladium Cinema, but this was swiftly dis-used and film fare was the norm.
There were approx 700 in the balcony and 1,500 in the stalls. Decoration was horizontal bands of blue green and red, separated by silver lines above a polished walnut dado. Lighting was mainly indirect, but boosted by a series of Art Deco style chandeliers in the ceiling. A Compton 3Manual/10Rank organ was installed. The proscenium was 52ft wide and the stage 30 feet deep. There was also a large restaurant.
The ‘New’ was dropped from the re-opening name of New Palladium and later, in 1950, it was renamed Gaumont. In 1962 it was renamed Odeon. The Rank Organisation closed the Odeon on 28th November 1979 with “Confessions of a Pop Performer” and “A Game For Vultures”.
After a long decline, the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s made an offer for the site, and despite it’s Listed building status and the fact that it was in a Conservation Area, permission was granted to demolish and the Odeon was reduced to rubble in the summer of 1980.
How much would it have taken to at least incorporate the supremely elegant facade into the shop?
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Photos taken just before demolition here:–
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does any one have any more information or pictures of this cinema/theatre, in specific the organ (A83 COMPTOM installed 1930), but any information will do. please could you post here or email me at
A further picture a year or so before closure here:–
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The Compton Organ was the 2nd such instrument installed in Gaumont houses (prior to 1930 Wurlitzers were used) and was a 3 manual 10 rank instrument with a new design of console unique to Gaumont, not illuminated the console was solid and seemed to be of wood with many scroll embellishments. It appeared to be on a lift in the centre of the orchestra pit and was opened by Leslie James, who was succeeded by Herbert Steele. It apparently survived in situ until the 1970’s.
Here is a photo from the 1970s.
The Compton organ was removed and eventually installed in the home of Manchester organist Joyce Alldred (who also had the Grand Southport organ in their organ shop).It was then sold to a Cheshire Farmer and the last i heard was in store awaiting installation.The console was Comptons
takeon the wurlitzer french style.This organ also had aFrench Trumpetof 37 notes.