New Olympia Cinema

Burnley Road,
Todmorden, OL14 7BU

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Star Cinemas

Firms: Aspen & Johnson

Styles: Art Deco

Nearby Theaters

New Olympia Cinema

Located in Todmorden, near Halifax, Yorkshire. The New Olympia Cinema was a replacement for an earlier Olympia Cinema which had opened as a roller skating rink in 1909, and closed in May 1931. The New Olympia Cinema was opened on 25th August 1932 and was designed by Burnley based architectural firm Aspen & Johnson. A good central location opposite the bus station gave the cinema the edge over the others in town and as it had the largest seating capacity and a full stage, the New Olympia Cinema immediately became the ‘best’ venue in the town.

It was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in 1955. It lasted longer than its rivals (the still open Hippodrome Theatre q.v. and the Gem Cinema now demolished) but finally closed as a cinema in 1966, and became a Star Bingo Club. When that closed the interior was stripped and the building converted into a supermarket which survived until around 2007. In early-2014, there were plans to demolish the building to build an ASDA supermarket on the site and adjacent land. The façade was due to be retained, but the entire building was demolished in May 2016.

Contributed by Ian Grundy

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on July 24, 2005 at 1:57 pm

The New Olympia Cinema was showing movies in 1966, operated by Star Cinemas. By 1968 it had become a Star Bingo club.

Ian
Ian on March 15, 2007 at 4:05 pm

Exterior photo here:–

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Ian
Ian on June 27, 2013 at 5:09 am

The Olympia appears to have been demolished and replaced by a Morrisons Supermarket on a much enlarged site.

Buffer
Buffer on May 16, 2015 at 10:02 am

I have just been to Todmorden (20th May, 2015) and found the Olympia still standing opposite the bus station. There is a Morrison up Rochedale Road where is probably more welcome than in Hebden Bridge!

Ian
Ian on May 18, 2016 at 6:15 am

The Olympia HAS now been completely demolished. The facade was not retained.

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