The official histories of this theatre state that it was converted from a 1908 hotel in 1914, which I find hard to believe. The structure in 2007 presents NO evidence that it was ever anything but a cinema. I would have expected to see blocked up windows and doors, but there is no trace of this in the external walls of the auditorium. If it was a hotel before, then it must have largely been demolished. Internally too, there is no evidence that this was ever anything but a purpose built cinema.
This used to be my local cinema in the 1970’s & 80’s and was always a favourite.
What is so lovely now is the “kick-in-the-teeth” to all those who said the cinema was unviable / an eyesore / past its sell-by date! Just look at the programme of films – and the majority of them are SOLD OUT! How many cinemas can say that?
and one of the Screen curtains and modernised (1960’s!) proscenium:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/371013990/
Photos taken in 1988 here:
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373370361/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373370358/
Interior (fronts stalls area):-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373370356/
Photographs taken in 1988 here
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377987/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377986/
Interior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377982/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/373377980/
Exterior photograph here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/350405370/
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/
Two interior photographs of the Camberwell Regal/ABC taken in 1988, when it was operating as a bingo hall.
Proscenium:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365981534/
Circle:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365981532/
Up-to-date (2007) photographs of this lovely and historic cinema are here:
Exterior:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963591/
Foyer:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963589/
Auditorium:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963587/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963583/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369963582/
The official histories of this theatre state that it was converted from a 1908 hotel in 1914, which I find hard to believe. The structure in 2007 presents NO evidence that it was ever anything but a cinema. I would have expected to see blocked up windows and doors, but there is no trace of this in the external walls of the auditorium. If it was a hotel before, then it must have largely been demolished. Internally too, there is no evidence that this was ever anything but a purpose built cinema.
Sad photo’s of the derelict Lounge in 2007 here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952124/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952121/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369952119/
Current (2007) photos of the Cottage road cinema here:
Foyer:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959173/
Auditorium:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959167/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959163/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/369959162/
This used to be my local cinema in the 1970’s & 80’s and was always a favourite.
What is so lovely now is the “kick-in-the-teeth” to all those who said the cinema was unviable / an eyesore / past its sell-by date! Just look at the programme of films – and the majority of them are SOLD OUT! How many cinemas can say that?
Pre-restoration pictures can be seen here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799104/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/92192258/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799100/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799102/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365799103/
An old exterior shot – from 1978 – is here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/332844635/
Photo from 1998, when still in use for bingo, here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/342497753/
Exterior photo dating from 1998 here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/342514686/
Another exterior photo of the Odeon as Dickie Dirts here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365965077/
Two more exteriors from 1988 here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365981525/
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/365981519/
More pre-renovation photos here:
Exterior:-
View link
View link
Circle passage:-
View link
Auditorium:-
View link
Couple of interior pics here.
Whilst still a cinema in 1986:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/364937181/
After conversion to a pub – showing some of the restored original ceiling:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/294034716/
Photo in the Bassetlaw Museum archives here:
View link
Exterior in 1988 here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/77307744/
Proscenium arch in main screen here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/77307746/
One of the mini’s beneath the balcony here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/77307748/
Picture across the balcony here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/77307747/
A series of photographs taken in 2007 are available.
Exterior here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/361635642/
Interior of auduitorium (side view and boxes) here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/361635640/
View of circle area here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/361635637/
A exterior pic of the Picturedrome as it is in 2007 can be found here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/361608986/
and a picture of the foyer is here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/361608985/
A contemporary photo of the Town Hall auditorium is here:
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/361635633/
Early in 2007 the former Odeon remains unused and boarded up. All signs and branding have been stripped from the exterior of the cinema.
There is an exteral picture here:–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/214259532/
and an internal one of the lower screen here :–
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/214259531/
I’ll try and upload some others if I can find them, but I seem to think I did not get many good shots on this day.