Good to see on the Lighting Plans that the Odeon entrance and name is so prominent, but there seems little consideration for advertising the films.
Will this be Odeons first new build luxe cinema – or will it count as a conversion as, albeit before opening, it will have been adapted rather than planned from the start?
Interesting. I saw Mamma Mia part 2 there – perhaps not the best choice of movie for the Imax experience – but was aware (sat centrally in the back on the last full row) that the bottom corners of the screen could not be seen unless the seat was completely upright. And this was in a near empty auditorium (there were 12 of us watching the film), with no-one sat in front of me.
Unlike L_S_F I am not a connoisseur of big screens – this was the first Imax I have experienced for years – so have little to compare it with. All I can report is that the image was very sharp, and the sound excellent (apart from Brosnan’s singing, but that is another story).
My Hemel cinema memories were at the Odeon on Marlowes which had a massive curved screen – but that was decades ago!
Back then film & developing costs were high. Now I wish I had done more, a lot more, but I had no concept of the scale of the losses that would materialise – particularly in the West End and major cities.
Photos taken in September 2018 here:–
WINDMILL EXTERIOR
WINDMILL STAGE
Two exterior photos from September 2018 here – closed but seemingly in OK condition:–
EMPIRE THEATRE
EMPIRE THEATRE
The Regent, as seen in September 2018, is once again closed. A photo of the exterior here:–
REGENT THEATRE
Further images from 2018 here:–
EXTERIOR
REAR BALCONY
Another view from 2018 :–
VUE BIRKENHEAD
Some more recent images following further restoration to the circle area – taken August 2018:–
EXTERIOR
ORGAN
STAGE FROM STALLS
AUDITORIUM FROM BALCONY
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
A proposal to remove the Angel Wings sculpture from the entrance was heavily criticised and withdrawn in 2018.
VUE ENTRANCE
Night time shot from August 2018 here:–
EMPRESS
Night time shot in August 2018 here:–
SCREEN ON THE GREEN
More photos taken in September 2018 here:–
EXTERIOR
CIRCLE FOYER / CAFE
PROSCENIUM DETAIL
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
STAGE
Good to see on the Lighting Plans that the Odeon entrance and name is so prominent, but there seems little consideration for advertising the films.
Will this be Odeons first new build luxe cinema – or will it count as a conversion as, albeit before opening, it will have been adapted rather than planned from the start?
Neither of the two artist’s impression images shows any sign of a cinema, presumably it will not have a Leicester Square entrance or presence.
Possibly (tongue very much in cheek), given Odeon’s poor grasp of London geography, it will be known as the Odeon Trafalgar!
And another more devasting one:–
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-45570791
Some exterior photos of the Empire from August 2018 here:–
EMPIRE
EMPIRE
EMPIRE
EMPIRE
Some photos taken in August 2018 here:–
EXTERIOR
FOYER
STAGE
AUDITORIUM SIDE VIEW
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
Some images of the transformed Storyhouse, taken in August 2018
OLD EXTERIOR
NEW EXTERIOR
ODEON AUDITORIUM
NEW THEATRE AUDITORIUM
STAGE
Some photos from August 2018 here:–
EXTERIOR
AUDITORIUM TOWARDS STAGE
ROOF VOID
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
BALLROOM
Photos of the Odeon, taken in August 2018 can be seen here:–
EXTERIOR
SCREEN 2
OLD STAIRS
SCREEN 5
NEW FOYER
A few photos from August 2018 here:–
EXTERIOR
REAR STALLS
VIEW FROM BALCONY
STAGE FROM FRONT STALLS
SPLAY WALL DETAIL FROM BALCONY
Interesting. I saw Mamma Mia part 2 there – perhaps not the best choice of movie for the Imax experience – but was aware (sat centrally in the back on the last full row) that the bottom corners of the screen could not be seen unless the seat was completely upright. And this was in a near empty auditorium (there were 12 of us watching the film), with no-one sat in front of me.
Unlike L_S_F I am not a connoisseur of big screens – this was the first Imax I have experienced for years – so have little to compare it with. All I can report is that the image was very sharp, and the sound excellent (apart from Brosnan’s singing, but that is another story).
My Hemel cinema memories were at the Odeon on Marlowes which had a massive curved screen – but that was decades ago!
Some recent photos of the Odeon Imax Swiss Cottage here:–
EXTERIOR
IMAX SCREEN
IMAX LOGO IN AUDITORIUM
Some images from August 2018, operating as the Gala Club:–
FACADE
REAR – STAGE
AUDITORIUM – SPLAY WALL
UNDER BALCONY PLASTERWORK
AUDITORIUM FROM STAGE
Back then film & developing costs were high. Now I wish I had done more, a lot more, but I had no concept of the scale of the losses that would materialise – particularly in the West End and major cities.
I like the fact that the flags are now named, making it easier to identify the theatres. Not noticed any problems yet.
Some photos from July 2018 here:–
EXTERIOR
BALCONY FOYER
SCREENS 1-2 ENTRANCE
SCREEN 3
MECCA BINGO