Odeon Leicester Square

FanaticalAboutOdeon on May 6, 2017 at 4:24 pm

Not having seen the original decorative scheme with my own eyes, photographs suggest I might have found the plasterwork and splay wall treatment (apart from the golden ladies) beyond the balcony front a tad over fussy. I realize the 1967 scheme was, and remains, controversial but on my first visit to the Odeon in 1971 I was most impressed. As well as eighteen 2K pageant lanterns creating a dazzling display on the new two-tone red velvet house tabs and silver satin screen tabs, the light box on the circle front also contained six profile spots projecting three overlapping spheres of red, amber and blue on each of the, newly plain, splay walls.

The rather psychedelic vertical design painted on the splay walls for the run of “Funny Lady” and later, raised rolling cloud shapes in maroon and pink were, presumably, to overcome the sweeping plainness of the forward side walls which was disliked by so many.

Rank Theatres Ltd. used the design consultancy, Trevor and Mavis Stone Associates for many Odeon modernisations during the ‘sixties and they worked on the auditorium changes for this theatre in 1967. They were known for their dislike of anything considered over ornate and their love of Strand Electric “Cinemoid” 47 Pink colour gel! In 1964, they found York Odeon with maroon velvet screen curtains with gold satin appliqued stripes near the bottom and lit by red/green/blue footlights. They replaced the curtains with plain silver satin ones and the footlights went in favour of nine 2K pageants mounted on the circle front and all filtered 57 Pink. It did look, literally, dazzlingly “up to date” but, once the dust had settled, the projection team restored a three colour circuit scheme to the powerful new lights and thereafter at least the attractive blending and changing of colours was once more possible.

Odeon Leicester Square had always had a light box on the circle front and the pageant lights there escaped the pink treatment and remained as before, six filtered red, six amber and six blue. Alas, less powerful profile spots replaced the pageants in 1987 and in 1998 the lights were rewired to just one circuit, ill-advisably using several different and unsuitable hues resulting in a dingy effect on the new, grey tabs. Thanks to Chief Engineer, Nigel Wolland, a much warmer and attractive effect was later achieved by the introduction of deep pink colour filters.

Soon it will be all change again as the West End’s last remaining super cinema gets the most fundamental and expensive refurbishment of its history, courtesy of Odeon Cinemas' new parent, AMC. The refurbishment promises important elements of restoration as well as reclining seats, more legroom, more toilet provision and further improvements.