Odeon Warrington
41-43 Buttermarket Street,
Warrington,
W1A 2LY
41-43 Buttermarket Street,
Warrington,
W1A 2LY
1 person
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An original Odeon built for Oscar Deutsch’s chain, Odeon Theatres Ltd. The Odeon opened on 11th January 1937 with George Arlis in "East Meets West". Seating was provided for 1,059 in the stalls and 576 in the circle.
It was closed in early-1968 when it was damaged by a fire. Repairs were made and it re-opened in May 1968. The Odeon was tripled with 576 seats in the former circle and 291 & 196 in the two screens formed out of the rear stalls. It re-opened on 14th September 1980 with "Empire Stikes Back", "Damien I & II" and "The Final Countdown".
Closed on 28th August 1994, the Odeon was demolished and a Yates Wine Lodge was built on the site.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Three vintage photographs of the Odeon Warrington:
Playing the Odeon release in August 1949:
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In the mid-1960's
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Here is an undated color photo of the former Odeon on Buttermarket Street.
In 1964 projection equipment at the Odeon was Kalee 21 machines with President arc lamps and Duosonic sound. Projectomatic automation was another feature enabling auto changeovers etc. The chief projectionist was Fred Laird. Trainee operator was John Forster. He went on to work for ABC and later as a relief operator for Cheshire County Cinemas based at the now demolished Empress Runcorn. John is now working at the Odeon in Bournemouth. A few doors up from the Odeon in Warrington stood the Empire, demoished in the early 1960s. It had a large poster on the side advertising stereophonic sound. It said it was the only cinema in Warrington with stereophonic sound. Eventually the Kalee machines were removed from the Odeon and replaced by Cinemeccanica equipment.
Here are new links for the three photos posted above:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3