From the new renders, the slogan on the canopy now says “Odeon Luxe Leicester Square Home of Premiers”, rather than the original, more classy “Oscar Deutsch Entertains our Nation”
Oh dear, the local council have approved the redevelopment plans, with the cinema likely to close on 11 September 2015 for demolition, and replacement by flats and a basement cinema operated by Picturehouse in 2018..
Unfortunately the long delayed new multiplex has started construction, due for completion in 18 months – late summer 2016. This doesn’t bode well for the existing Odeon and ABC cinemas in Bournemouth.
This cinema closed 1st June 2014 with “Boudu Saved from Drowning” for sub division into 6 screens, reopening in December 2014 as the Curzon Bloomsbury. The architecural drawings show 1 “large” screen of 155 seats in the centre of the original auditorium, 1 “medium” 59 seat screen on the stage, and 4 small screens of either 24 or 29 seats each towards the rear of the original auditorium.
The place had similarities to the Angelica Film Centre in Manhattan – great art house film selections, but awkward auditoriums. The cinema had been unsatisfactorily twinned down the centre in 1981.
So, sad to see it close in it’s current format, sad to see the loss of it’s name, but hopeful the reopened cinemas will be better.
Basically, screen 1 will be carved up with a new 750 seat IMAX screen appearing to use the rear “stadium” seats of Screen 1 with a screen size of 24.5m by 13m, and a 400 seat “Impact” screen in the front section. They hope to open this by the end of 2013.
The Birmingham Mail’s headline says it all really “Jaguar Land Rover take over Showcase cinema site in Castle Bromwich”
Must be the first time in the UK a factory has taken over a cinema site – normally it’s the other way around… Maybe there’s hope for Industry after all.
70mm returns to the Odeon West End on Friday, as Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master plays exclusively between 2nd November and 15th November 2012. It opens in the 814 seat screen 2 – the former stalls. According to the Odeon web site it is the only cinema in the UK to be screening it in 70mm.
Thanks for posting this photo. My uncle, Charles Stephenson, ran the sweet shop to the left of the cinema entrance. There was also a Stephenson’s sweet shop by the Regal in Cross Gates.
Charles ran the sweet shop for many years until someone came into his shop in 1975 and offered him a reasonable amount of money for the shop. Charles then had a long and happy retirement, mostly gardening and performing magic tricks. He sadly died a few years ago.
The Google Street View is locked on the right location. I got the details wrong about the subsequent use of the building following the cinema closure – the building was not demolished, but was subdivided into separate retail stores and restaurants. More information at
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080301/news_lz1ez1edtop.html
According to Property Week they’re taking over from Showcase / Cinema de Luxe at the Westfield, Shepherds Bush. No mention of what will happen to the existing Vue cinema at the West 12 centre above Morrisons in Shepherds Bush.
From the new renders, the slogan on the canopy now says “Odeon Luxe Leicester Square Home of Premiers”, rather than the original, more classy “Oscar Deutsch Entertains our Nation”
Dave – the triangle referred to Aston University’s campus – Aston Triangle.
A further article in tonight’s Evening Standard newspaper commenting on the changing scene for London’s cinemas including this one.
Evening Standard comment
Oh dear, the local council have approved the redevelopment plans, with the cinema likely to close on 11 September 2015 for demolition, and replacement by flats and a basement cinema operated by Picturehouse in 2018..
Evening Standard article
Cultman, if you search for “odeon” on the Jersey Government website, that brings up many documents about the Odeon
http://www.gov.je/pages/search.aspx?query=odeon
The best is the “Price Report” – view the “Main text” PDF, alternately the other sections include many photos. http://www.gov.je/Government/Pages/StatesReports.aspx?ReportID=580
Unfortunately the long delayed new multiplex has started construction, due for completion in 18 months – late summer 2016. This doesn’t bode well for the existing Odeon and ABC cinemas in Bournemouth.
Vinci starts £50m cinema complex
Interesting Telegraph article about the 70mm presentation of Interstellar – their first 70mm since Armageddon in 1998
Interstellar: the secrets of the projection room
This cinema closed 1st June 2014 with “Boudu Saved from Drowning” for sub division into 6 screens, reopening in December 2014 as the Curzon Bloomsbury. The architecural drawings show 1 “large” screen of 155 seats in the centre of the original auditorium, 1 “medium” 59 seat screen on the stage, and 4 small screens of either 24 or 29 seats each towards the rear of the original auditorium.
Details at http://www.curzoncinemas.com/news/all/renoir_cinema_curzon_bloomsbury.aspx
The place had similarities to the Angelica Film Centre in Manhattan – great art house film selections, but awkward auditoriums. The cinema had been unsatisfactorily twinned down the centre in 1981.
So, sad to see it close in it’s current format, sad to see the loss of it’s name, but hopeful the reopened cinemas will be better.
The Empire Cinema’s official press release is at
http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/?page=aboutus&id=179
with a more informative description at bleedingcool.com
Basically, screen 1 will be carved up with a new 750 seat IMAX screen appearing to use the rear “stadium” seats of Screen 1 with a screen size of 24.5m by 13m, and a 400 seat “Impact” screen in the front section. They hope to open this by the end of 2013.
The Birmingham Mail’s headline says it all really
“Jaguar Land Rover take over Showcase cinema site in Castle Bromwich”
Must be the first time in the UK a factory has taken over a cinema site – normally it’s the other way around… Maybe there’s hope for Industry after all.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/jaguar-land-rover-take-over-1292609
70mm returns to the Odeon West End on Friday, as Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master plays exclusively between 2nd November and 15th November 2012. It opens in the 814 seat screen 2 – the former stalls. According to the Odeon web site it is the only cinema in the UK to be screening it in 70mm.
Thanks for posting this photo. My uncle, Charles Stephenson, ran the sweet shop to the left of the cinema entrance. There was also a Stephenson’s sweet shop by the Regal in Cross Gates.
Charles ran the sweet shop for many years until someone came into his shop in 1975 and offered him a reasonable amount of money for the shop. Charles then had a long and happy retirement, mostly gardening and performing magic tricks. He sadly died a few years ago.
A good history of the cinema, in German, is listed here: http://www.allekinos.com/FRANKFURTTurm.htm
Dave Harte posted a video he made in 1988 of the Triangle Cinema, including shots inside the original auditorium, then set out for University exams.
His blog entry and the video directly on Youtube.
There is an extensive history of the Odeon on this PDF document discussing the reasons for listing. View PDF
The Google Street View is locked on the right location. I got the details wrong about the subsequent use of the building following the cinema closure – the building was not demolished, but was subdivided into separate retail stores and restaurants. More information at http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080301/news_lz1ez1edtop.html
According to Property Week they’re taking over from Showcase / Cinema de Luxe at the Westfield, Shepherds Bush. No mention of what will happen to the existing Vue cinema at the West 12 centre above Morrisons in Shepherds Bush.