Odeon Preston

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Taken on: September 17, 2023

Uploaded on: September 18, 2023

Software: Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384

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Photograph showing the auditorium with red and gold velvet house curtains closed, below the Wurlitzer sits in centre of orchestra pit, which at opening musicians were still engaged for silent films. The stepped proscenium was lit by concealed lighting, above the organ chambers were concealed by gilded decorative grille work. Splay walls either side featured large hand painted murals of Pierott and Pierrett up lit from below. ‘PCT’ monogrammed letters appear on the proscenium pelmet, above the splay wall murals and the end seat stanchions. Architect Leslie Kemp was engaged by W.E.Trent Chief Architect for PCT before Gaumont takeover, to oversee the construction of the New Victoria. From the Leslie H Kemp files Kemp remarks, “He was a very nice man to work for, I enjoyed working for him and was very sorry to leave, Trent would allow me to get on with it - I never had any interference”. Kemp left because another assistant Ernest F. Tulley found out that that Kemp was earning more than him, apparently the reason being Tulley had no qualifications.

Ron Knee

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