A fish & chip shop was allowed to open in one of the retail units. Normally this use for not allowed as the smell of cooking managed to get into the cinema. However, here at Stafford, I believe one of the businesses demolished when the theatre was built, was a fish & chip shop, and the proviso for demolition rested on a ‘new home’ when the Odeon was built.
Doolally; That is correct. The plot of land was small and was restricted by other adjacent buildings who’s owners were not willing to sell, and be demolished to build a new cinema.
The projection booth was located on the rear stalls level, as this allowed for a maximum seating capacity. The circle seating went to the rear internal wall, which externally is the front wall of the cinema where the large Odeon sign is located on the vintage photographs I posted above.
Three vintage exterior views of the Odeon:
In October 1949, playing the Odeon release: View link
In April 1952, playing the Odeon release: View link
In 1969, playing a ‘popular’ release: View link
dave-bronx; you assume correctly. You will find most cinema buildings here in the UK refer to the main floor as the Stalls and upstairs as the Circle or occasionally Balcony
However in ‘live’ theatres you get the terms Orchestra Stalls for the main floor, Royal Circle or Dress Circle for upstairs. If a live theatre has additional upstairs seating areas, then the next one up would be the Balcony and a third circle up would be the Gallery. Mezzanine’s are rarely found in UK cinemas and theatres.
Contact the CTA Archivist; Clive Polden and I am sure he will be able to advise what material we hold. Mention my name (Ken Roe), Cinema Treasures and your purpose etc.
Good Luck with your research.
Nothing in the immediate ‘pipeline’ planed for the CTA to visit the former Majestic.
A small exterior photograph of the Palace Theatre here:
http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/56635/
Ian, I have no record of the Albert Hall being on the Listed buildings register. Still looking forward to your pics when you manage to up-load them.
Some exterior photographs from October 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/52962040/
http://flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/206611807/
http://flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/52961934/
Close-ups of details:
http://flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/52962077/
http://flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/52961999/
http://flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/21651195/
A full view in January 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/216142610/
A vintage photograph from the late 1940’s or early 1950’s as the Princess Cinema:
http://flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/232020097/
A January 2006 photograph of the facade:
View link
A recent exterior view from May 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/bettsy1970/502467243/
Two current interior views and some details here:
http://www.aberystwyth.org.uk/att04.shtml
A recent photograph of the former Regal Cinema in its current use as a bar.nightclub:
View link
A vintage view of the Odeon Bury St. Edmunds in the early 1960’s:
View link
The filming location could have been the Capitol Cinema, Radford, Nottingham /theaters/22609/
A fish & chip shop was allowed to open in one of the retail units. Normally this use for not allowed as the smell of cooking managed to get into the cinema. However, here at Stafford, I believe one of the businesses demolished when the theatre was built, was a fish & chip shop, and the proviso for demolition rested on a ‘new home’ when the Odeon was built.
Thanks smoothie. I found the image. Excellent find! http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/
A photograph from November 2006:
View link
A photograph from October 2007:
View link
Doolally; That is correct. The plot of land was small and was restricted by other adjacent buildings who’s owners were not willing to sell, and be demolished to build a new cinema.
The projection booth was located on the rear stalls level, as this allowed for a maximum seating capacity. The circle seating went to the rear internal wall, which externally is the front wall of the cinema where the large Odeon sign is located on the vintage photographs I posted above.
Here is a current photograph of the former Odeon, Guide Bridge:
View link
Three vintage exterior views of the Odeon:
In October 1949, playing the Odeon release:
View link
In April 1952, playing the Odeon release:
View link
In 1969, playing a ‘popular’ release:
View link
Some photographs from December 2007, courtesy of Howard B. Haas:
Exterior
View link
Ticket booth
View link
Front auditorium
View link
dave-bronx; you assume correctly. You will find most cinema buildings here in the UK refer to the main floor as the Stalls and upstairs as the Circle or occasionally Balcony
However in ‘live’ theatres you get the terms Orchestra Stalls for the main floor, Royal Circle or Dress Circle for upstairs. If a live theatre has additional upstairs seating areas, then the next one up would be the Balcony and a third circle up would be the Gallery. Mezzanine’s are rarely found in UK cinemas and theatres.
An exterior photograph from 2005 of the closed Riviera Cinema, just prior to the re-development:
http://flickr.com/photos/unpopular/2896771/
A sunny day in 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/28383892@N00/33361452/
By August 2007 the new luxury flats had been built on top:
http://flickr.com/photos/halmond/1081546377/
Or the building is just a ‘Mall’ and the banner is advertising movies available to buy on video/dvd?
Thanks Lost Memory. That being the case, the style will be Art Deco.
Contact the CTA Archivist; Clive Polden and I am sure he will be able to advise what material we hold. Mention my name (Ken Roe), Cinema Treasures and your purpose etc.
Good Luck with your research.
Nothing in the immediate ‘pipeline’ planed for the CTA to visit the former Majestic.
You are welcome Charlie. I am a founder member of the Cinema Theatre Association http://www.cinema-theatre.org.uk/
Enjoy!
Mecca Bingo signage above the main facade foyer window in February 2007, just prior to closing:
http://flickr.com/photos/pikaluk/393160251/