The cinema got its (2nd) name from Ben Hur (this has nothing to do with the Back & White silent film of that name). Henry Ben Solomon was a market trader, there was a bully in the market who was a British boxing champion. The market traders decided between them in a meeting, that the next person to be bullied by this boxer would have to stand up and fight the guy. The next person after that meeting who was bullied was my Great Grandfather. He was too old to fight this guy, so my Grandfather (Henry Ben Solomon) said he would fight him instead.
A bare-fisted fight was organised (this was illegal in those days, so it was held underground in the drains). In those days a knock down was considered one round. After 77 rounds, Henry emerged as the winner, having beaten this guy to a pulp, however Henry sustained some injuries in the fight and had to go to hospital. While in hospital, he was visited by a theatrical agent who convinced him, that with this story he could make Henry famous and that they should go on stage with an act.
Henry decided to do this and chose the stage name Ben Hur (he had an stage act named Pompey). Before long he was billed as ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ and even managed to last 9 rounds with a Sumo wrestler. As the act became popular Henry started buying some businesses (one of which was the Palacedium Cinema, Stepney). As Henry was known throughout the East End as Ben, the cinema was naturally re-named Ben Hur Cinema.
Soon the family name Solomon, was changed by Deed Poll to Hur. Ben Hur was a very generous man, donating much money to charity, and the London Hospital, Whitechapel. Ben died in January 1960, three weeks before my birth (hence I was given his name).
Ben had lived the remainder of years in Preston Drive, Wanstead. E11, where he bought the first two houses built in that road. Ben’s sons were named; Jack, Richard, Louis, Alfred and John, his daughter was named Sadie.
Ben was a great man and is sadly missed by his family and all who knew him.
This website has the story of the two Orpheus Cinema’s which have stood on this site, plus photographs: View link
A November 2006 photograph of the entrance to the Orpheus Cinema: http://flickr.com/photos/chrisbertram/310447522/
A newspaper story about the unsolved murder of the manager of the Odeon in 1946, plus a small photo of the entrance from the 1970’s: View link
Photographed in 1982, as a three-screen cinema: View link
A photograph of Broadmead, showing the Odeon in 1965, playing the Rank release: http://flickr.com/photos/mao_zhou/261417029/
A March 2008 photograph, showing the Odeon cinema, its entrance now on the left hand side in Union Street. The original entrance now serves an H&M store, located in the former stalls area: http://flickr.com/photos/stringberd/2359085762/
A few more of hjuk’s interior photographs from June 2008:
Details above a stalls exit:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2559159140/
A view across the circle:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558335597/
An arch to the front stalls exit:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558335745/
Sidewall details under the circle, showing the former standing area:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558335947/
Right sidewall, as seen from the stalls:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558336121/
A wonderful set of interior photographs taken in June 2008. Thanks to HJUK for allowing us to see them:
Main inner foyer:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558332905/
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558333075/
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558333317/
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558333517/
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2559157572/
Part of the former restaurant area in the circle foyer:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558333927/
Entrance doors to the circle:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2559157902/
Circle vestibule foyer ceiling:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558334191/
View of the rear circle, showing projection portholes:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2559158166/
Views of the auditorium from the rear of the circle:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2559158360/
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558334789/
Sidewall details, left of the proscenium:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2559158784/
Sidewall details right of the proscenium:
http://flickr.com/photos/hjuk/2558335149/
A vintage photograph of the Odeon Lewes, taken not long before it closed in 1971:
View link
The Commodore Cinema/Bingo club in 1974 when it was under the control of Star Cinemas:
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/2235157968/
Two exterior views of the former Riddrie Cinema, taken in August 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/14936165@N00/1012519164/
http://flickr.com/photos/14936165@N00/1012519120/
Auditorium
http://flickr.com/photos/14936165@N00/1012519186/
An exterior photograph of the closed-down Vogue Bingo Club in July 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/dickyhart/199837469/
Close-up of the upper part of the facade, as seen in April 2004:
http://flickr.com/photos/nicohogg/289806399/
A few photographs I took in May 2008;
Exterior:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2557168638/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2556344837/
Auditorium
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2557171678/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2557173220/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2556350329/
The cinema got its (2nd) name from Ben Hur (this has nothing to do with the Back & White silent film of that name). Henry Ben Solomon was a market trader, there was a bully in the market who was a British boxing champion. The market traders decided between them in a meeting, that the next person to be bullied by this boxer would have to stand up and fight the guy. The next person after that meeting who was bullied was my Great Grandfather. He was too old to fight this guy, so my Grandfather (Henry Ben Solomon) said he would fight him instead.
A bare-fisted fight was organised (this was illegal in those days, so it was held underground in the drains). In those days a knock down was considered one round. After 77 rounds, Henry emerged as the winner, having beaten this guy to a pulp, however Henry sustained some injuries in the fight and had to go to hospital. While in hospital, he was visited by a theatrical agent who convinced him, that with this story he could make Henry famous and that they should go on stage with an act.
Henry decided to do this and chose the stage name Ben Hur (he had an stage act named Pompey). Before long he was billed as ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ and even managed to last 9 rounds with a Sumo wrestler. As the act became popular Henry started buying some businesses (one of which was the Palacedium Cinema, Stepney). As Henry was known throughout the East End as Ben, the cinema was naturally re-named Ben Hur Cinema.
Soon the family name Solomon, was changed by Deed Poll to Hur. Ben Hur was a very generous man, donating much money to charity, and the London Hospital, Whitechapel. Ben died in January 1960, three weeks before my birth (hence I was given his name).
Ben had lived the remainder of years in Preston Drive, Wanstead. E11, where he bought the first two houses built in that road. Ben’s sons were named; Jack, Richard, Louis, Alfred and John, his daughter was named Sadie.
Ben was a great man and is sadly missed by his family and all who knew him.
Ian Ben Hur (Grandson)
(submitted via e-mail)
The New Picture House, photographed in August 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/airth_man/1107069685/
The Vue Cambridge, photographed in March 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/kirknorthrop/96828852/
Inside one of the screens:
http://flickr.com/photos/reeseporter/361703847/
Entrance in April 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/norfolkodyssey/466266233/
Photographed as the ABC Cinema in 1998:
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/348004656/
Photographed as the Odeon in March 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/kirknorthrop/96825874/
Photographed as the Hollywood Cinema in May 2007;
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/503322311/
A November 2006 photograph of the Cineworld, Bury St. Edmunds:
http://flickr.com/photos/kirknorthrop/289772176/
The Showcase Cinemas photographed in August 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/caroslines/1214934053/
Night view in May 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/davehayward/496178745/
Some photographs of the Watershed Cinema, from March 2008:
View link
View link
Entrance
View link
http://flickr.com/photos/adubber/2342797072/
http://flickr.com/photos/martja/122504661/
This website has the story of the two Orpheus Cinema’s which have stood on this site, plus photographs:
View link
A November 2006 photograph of the entrance to the Orpheus Cinema:
http://flickr.com/photos/chrisbertram/310447522/
A newspaper story about the unsolved murder of the manager of the Odeon in 1946, plus a small photo of the entrance from the 1970’s:
View link
Photographed in 1982, as a three-screen cinema:
View link
A photograph of Broadmead, showing the Odeon in 1965, playing the Rank release:
http://flickr.com/photos/mao_zhou/261417029/
A March 2008 photograph, showing the Odeon cinema, its entrance now on the left hand side in Union Street. The original entrance now serves an H&M store, located in the former stalls area:
http://flickr.com/photos/stringberd/2359085762/
The Arnolfini exterior photographed in May 2008:
http://flickr.com/photos/jontangerine/2488871235/
Close-up view in November 2003:
http://flickr.com/photos/archidave/370595056/
A March 2008 view:
View link
The Cineworld Bradford, photographed in December 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/keith_ritchie/329012099/
Two photographs of the Etoile Cine in 2000 and 2008:
http://flickr.com/photos/yellowsummer/2537501871/
The exterior of the West End Cinema, Boston in February 2008;
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/2056844491/
The cinema sign on a cloudy day in August 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/davepearson/1009289575/
The Stanley Theatre can by seen in the center background in this 1925 view of the Boardwalk:
View link
An April 2007 photograph of Liquid & Envy Nightclubs, in the former Odeon Wrexham:
http://flickr.com/photos/jonesthecamera/460329007/
An early evening photograph of the Odeon Wrexham:
http://flickr.com/photos/traedmawr/267864772/
The Vue Blackburn, photographed in December 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/tpreece01/72586270/