Are you sure about the date of Odeon to Focus changeover? A friend of mine worked as a part time projectionist here in 1975/6, and I’m fairly sure it still displayed Odeon signage at that time.
I worked for an AV company around the corner from this place. One evening in 1975, we installed a mobile 16mm rig in order to project an evening of travel films for a local holiday agent. I had no idea it had once been used as a ‘proper’ cinema!
Although not a local myself, I have a long family history with the town, and have spent a lot of happy times in the area over the last 60 years. To contemplate the replacement of this historic cinema with the anonymity of an underground multiplex doesn’t bear thinking about. It’s a real shame that its operators don’t use its uniqueness as a major selling point. What does their PR department DO with itself all day?
Thankyou abcman. Looking at your pics of the operahouse, you are, of course, quite right – it WAS a long time ago, after all. However, I DID see a summer show at the ABC, but now can’t remember who it was for the life of me!
I can ‘sort of’ understand Tesco wanting to rebuild here. Although it had a lot of seats, the interior of the building was/is quite cramped, and the present store is very small by Tesco standards. However…… there isn’t a lot of room out the back to extend into, there being a sloping municipal car park very close to the back wall of the present building, so I don’t quite see their rationale. Maybe they want to extend upwards?
I was a student in Guildford between 1970 and 1974, during which time I saw several films at the Odeon, including Woodstock and Fantasia on the big screen – pre tripling. Guildford was also the home of Studio 1, which became one of the first cinemas in the country to be twinned into Studios 1 & 2. These were closer to the Uni – as well as round the corner from the best Indian restaurant in town, so were the cinema of choice for students. The present multiplex is just round the corner from where the studios used to stand.
What a find. By the time I was involved with the place in 1970, the whole of the inside was painted black. If my memory serves me well, the picture was taken from a point in front of the steeply raked rear stalls. The cinema was actually quite large inside, the projection throw being around 100 feet. The ‘scope picture was like a postage stamp from the back, due to being the same width as the 1.33:1
They had been replaced by Kalee’s – possibly 20’s – by 1968.
Star Wars in D-150 is a sight I’ll remember all my life. You had to turn your head to see different parts of the picture – talk about being involved….
Fantastic… Presumably helped immensely by the advent of digital projection?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16640632@N03/9444882991/in/photolist-foBuEc-8xh2Kr-hnMme7-ejtT8X-hnM5mX-hnMnyw-hgKjtd-hgL6cd-hnM8T7-hgKcGu-hnMxdm-hgKuTc-hgJVvR-hnLWKz-hgK4cn-hgLVwM-hnM66U-hgL6Ha-hnMgYA-hnNkzi-hnLMM4-hnMaTj-hnLFqr-dCrzv8-9S9JSi-de5BPL-9Le3hX-9WtFMJ-bnUn4n-8GgUGt-9feDwb-dWe2wD-dAiko2-8BgjrJ-7BreYh-8pcznL-8DVqu4-8xk4ho-bAF7VS-hnMFyQ-hgKcep-hnLKST-hnNkiM-hnMnsw-gKSKBe-hgLrzz-hgKU1U-hnM9ho-hnMrwH-hgKYrY-hnMzUf
A very sad pic here…
Are you sure about the date of Odeon to Focus changeover? A friend of mine worked as a part time projectionist here in 1975/6, and I’m fairly sure it still displayed Odeon signage at that time.
I worked for an AV company around the corner from this place. One evening in 1975, we installed a mobile 16mm rig in order to project an evening of travel films for a local holiday agent. I had no idea it had once been used as a ‘proper’ cinema!
When was it actually demolished?
It really is still a magnificent building. Saw the Beatles and the Yardbirds there one christmas in the 60’s
Although not a local myself, I have a long family history with the town, and have spent a lot of happy times in the area over the last 60 years. To contemplate the replacement of this historic cinema with the anonymity of an underground multiplex doesn’t bear thinking about. It’s a real shame that its operators don’t use its uniqueness as a major selling point. What does their PR department DO with itself all day?
Drove past yesterday. Not much left…..
A very nice video describing the history of the Kinema is available from the website. It’s fascinating stuff, and well worth a view.
I believe Star’s first attempt at twinning was Studio 1&2 in Guildford – long demolished to make way for an open air bus garage.
I seem to remember that the MacDonalds usage actually lasted into the 21st century – possibly as late as 2004.
At least the building seems to have had a coat of paint since the photo at the top was taken…
Thankyou abcman. Looking at your pics of the operahouse, you are, of course, quite right – it WAS a long time ago, after all. However, I DID see a summer show at the ABC, but now can’t remember who it was for the life of me!
I must go and take a look at this place – I worked around the corner from 1973-76, but never got the chance to go inside.
I can ‘sort of’ understand Tesco wanting to rebuild here. Although it had a lot of seats, the interior of the building was/is quite cramped, and the present store is very small by Tesco standards. However…… there isn’t a lot of room out the back to extend into, there being a sloping municipal car park very close to the back wall of the present building, so I don’t quite see their rationale. Maybe they want to extend upwards?
I was a student in Guildford between 1970 and 1974, during which time I saw several films at the Odeon, including Woodstock and Fantasia on the big screen – pre tripling. Guildford was also the home of Studio 1, which became one of the first cinemas in the country to be twinned into Studios 1 & 2. These were closer to the Uni – as well as round the corner from the best Indian restaurant in town, so were the cinema of choice for students. The present multiplex is just round the corner from where the studios used to stand.
Thank goodness it’s still there.
People vomited during Star Wars at the Odeon Marble Arch due to motion sickness. The staff had to shut the front few rows.
What a find. By the time I was involved with the place in 1970, the whole of the inside was painted black. If my memory serves me well, the picture was taken from a point in front of the steeply raked rear stalls. The cinema was actually quite large inside, the projection throw being around 100 feet. The ‘scope picture was like a postage stamp from the back, due to being the same width as the 1.33:1
Do you know WHICH retail unit this is?
This is what the site looks like as of December 2010.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksavs/5228711029/
http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/info/eaempire005.htm
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This is worth a watch.