Hornsby Odeon Cinema

Opened as a open air theatre called Hornsby Picture Theatre in 1912. Rebuilt in 1924 and reanamed Hornsby Theatre. A dress circle was added in 1937. In 1954, there was 1080 seats in the stalls, and 540 seats in the dress circle. In the(1970s?) stalls converted shops, and cinema ran only in the dress circle(500 seats). Purchased and ran by Village in(late 1970’s?). In 1985 purchased by GIO Insurance who moved into the downstairs retail area, the cinema closed for 18 months. Closed on 14/5/1997. Reopened in(1998 or 1999?) and renamed Hornsby Odeon(474 seats). Hornsby Odeon is the only operating single screen cinema in the Sydney metropolian area. The insurance store is now an electical retailer(name unknown?)

The Odeon opened in 1914 as Hornsby Cinema with the foyer on street level. The cinema was rebuilt in 1921 and again in the 1930s when art deco was at the forefront of building design. The cinema retains its facade on Hornsby’s ‘old side’ and was named The Odeon in the mid-90s.