Odeon Richmond
72 Hill Street,
Richmond,
TW9 1TW
72 Hill Street,
Richmond,
TW9 1TW
1 person
favorited this theater
Located in Richmond, Surrey, towards the west of what is today included in Greater London. The Richmond Kinema opened on 21st April 1930. It was built for the Joseph Mears Theatres circuit. It had an original seating capacity of 1,533 in stalls and circle levels. It was re-named Premier Cinema from 29th June 1940 (this was to enable the removal of the Richmond name on the cinema, in case German parachutists landed nearby).
It was taken over by Oscar Deutsch’s Odeon Theatres Ltd. from 3rd January 1944 and was re-named Odeon in May 1944. Converted into a triple screen from 30th December 1972. Screen 1 in the old circle is beautiful. It retains the original Atmospheric style auditorium, modelled in the style of a 17th century Spanish courtyard. Features include ornate grillwork, Spanish tiles, Moorish windows, even stone and plaster oranges and doves. Screens 2 & 3 are located under the circle and both have seating provided for 118. The entrance foyer plasterwork depicts all the various trades of the people the original owner (Joseph T. Mears) employed, lots of them.
In 2008, the seating capacities are given as 406, 178 and 178.
The Odeon is a Grade II Listed building.
Contributed by
Steve Grimley
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
….please, nobody mention the appauling building around the corner!!! (the Odeon Multiplex) Dreadful!
Here are updated links for the photos posted on Sep 14, 2005:
Photo1
Photo2
The year given for this photo is 2005.
I saw the Odeon Richmond a few days ago from the window of an aircraft landing at Heathrow. Its quit a sight to see the huge auditorium so detached from the main foyer building. Maybe someone on here us able to put up the Google map of it?
Sorry! I forgot, you can see already on the map link above.
Two more photos of the Odeon taken in March 2009.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3337612592/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3337612334/
This is another 2009 photo.
I just returned from a visit to England. During a trip to Richmond, I happily stumbled upon this wonderful facade. Walking up from the historic Richmond Bridge that traverses the Thames, the theater really dominates the streetscape and provides a terrific, and very well preserved, landmark on its own. I just wish I could have caught a film here – but time was not on my side. (And the Fanatical About Films sign was also terrific to see.)
Here is a recent close-up photo.
http://www.cinephoto.co.uk/
Follow this link for some behind the scenes views of the Odeon Richmond