Comments from GeorgeScoble

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GeorgeScoble
GeorgeScoble commented about Odeon Luxe London Leicester Square on Jun 10, 2007 at 9:23 am

Re the comments on the price of admission to the Odeon, Leicester Square. Back in 1947 I was doing my national service with the army and I found myself in London on duty for a few days. So, where better to go to the cinema than the Odeon Leicester Square ? The film was ‘It Always Rains on Sunday’ (in monochrome) with Googie Withers and John McCallum. The organ played and there was a short concert by the band of The Royal Military School of Music. The decor in the theatre was art deco and, all in all, it was quite an experience. I was in the centre stalls for which I paid four shillings and sixpence (quite a sum in those days)(about 23p or 46c)
A seat in the front circle would set you back eleven shillings and sixpence (about 58p or a bit over a dollar). I have been back many times since and, having been a projectionist, I managed to get a look at the projection room, which was fairly imposing.
By the by, I now live in Andover in Hampshire where we have been without a cinema for some years. However, they are building a huge Asda supermarket and when completed, it will feature a four screen multiplex (capacity approx 4 x 150) which sit atop the structure.