Apollo Cinema

An original Odeon Theatre, built for the Oscar Deutsch Odeon Theatres Ltd. chain. It is located on the corner of Brighton Road and High Street in the centre of the north Wales seaside town of Rhyl, next to the railway station. The Odeon opened on 30th October 1937 with Flora Robson in "Farewell Again".

Designed by Robert Bullivant from the office of the Harry Weedon Partnership, it was a stylish Art Deco styled building. The corner entrance rotunda was lower than the rest of the building and was faced with cream faiance tiles, broken with windows. Behind this was a tower-like feature which contained the main foyer. Seating in the auditorium was provided for 862 in the stalls and 546 in the circle. On each side of the proscenium opening there were large panelled decorative grilles on the splay walls. Lighting in the auditorium was provided by concealed lighting in troughs across the ceiling.

From the 13th October 1969 it was taken over by the Hutchinson Leisure Group and re-named Astra Cinema. They triplexed the cinema from 24th April 1972 with seating for 750 in the former stalls and two mini screens seating 250 and 225 in the former circle. Later, the stalls screen was converted into a bingo club, whilst the two mini cinemas continued on film.

In the late-1980’s the building was taken over by Apollo Leisure UK Ltd. and it was re-named Apollo Cinema. The two mini cinemas were closed in October 1995 and the building was de-tripled into one space again, becoming the Apollo Bingo Club, which remains open today.

From 4th January 1989, the former Odeon Theatre was designated a Grade II Listed building.

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

Ken Roe on January 27, 2008 at 9:25 am

Three vintage views from October 1949 (playing the Odeon release):
Main entrance and adjacent parade of shop units:
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Side exterior wall of main foyer:
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Parade of shops and main entrance:
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Current photographs of the Apollo Bingo Club:
http://www.apollocinemas.co.uk/bingo/rhylpics.html

AdoraKiaOra on January 27, 2008 at 9:46 am

A fantastic looking building.

Ian on January 27, 2008 at 1:16 pm

A few more photos from 1987 here:–

Exterior:
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Foyer:
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Auditorium:
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Ken Roe on September 10, 2009 at 3:47 pm

Photographed in August 2009;
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Ian on January 24, 2010 at 1:35 am

Two 1986 vintage exterior photos here:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4299348423/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4299348687/

Mike_Blakemore on September 8, 2011 at 2:22 pm

The original Company was Odeon Cinema(Rhyl) Ltd., Incorpoated in Birmingham Offices in Temple Street. Every Odeon Cinema was a Seperate Company and shareholders up to max 50 in totaL

ODEONesque on July 25, 2013 at 10:29 am

Follow this to get the first of 7 photos taken recently, then just scroll through them. http://www.flickr.com/photos/78860621@N02/9049196448/ I walked all round the building and captured just about everything from the outside.

Eric Evans on August 29, 2013 at 6:52 am

Please click on photos for a photo taken 26/08/2013.