Odeon West End

Lionel: I never visited in single screen form, but I can say…

In Screen 2, the screen speaker system was JBL 4675’s with JBL 4688 “Triple Chamber Bandpass” subwoofers. (Later, JBL/Harman faced litigation from Bose for patent infringement, lost, and the TCB design products discontinued.) As you’d imagine, the surrounds were 8330’s.

No baffle wall, but (standard practice today) the wall behind the screen was covered with absorptive material (Rockwool) to control acoustics (i.e., sound bouncing off the unperforated parts of the screen to the wall behind, back and forth.)

Dolby Digital, DTS and SDDS all supported.

Very good sound.

Regarding “Return of the Jedi;” this was on the cusp of improvements to the B-chain, including the THX programme and the JBL 4765’s with (then) cutting-edge high power drivers and “bi-radial” horns, c.f., the old “cell horn” (HF section) designs, as in the old Vitavox, Altec Voice of the Theatre, etc.

Over the weekend, I did visit the Screen 1 (Dolby Cinema) in the new OWE, which features a very good Atmos install. Write-up to follow on its Cinema Treasures page!

Thanks for your fascinating story and link to photos.

I only saw 2 films there (both in 70mm) and it was still a single-screen theater: Rocky III in 1982 and Return of the Jedi in 1983. I remember that the sound was crystal clear, probably an aging sound system but still in good condition to correctly reproduce the sophisticated sound mix of “Jedi”. And with “Jedi”, an impressive panel had been install on the building front showing not only the film poster bill, but with additional red neon lines that blinked to simulate the spaceships (TIE fighters) laser shots. Good pictures of the single-screen cinema on Flickr here.

Biffaskin: Finishes of the new building’s façade include blue faience tiles and “crystal white” granite cladding.

Full details are available in the following planning application under “Facade Material Samples”:

18/02417/ADFULL – Details of facing materials samples pursuant to Condition 28 of planning permission dated 29 November 2016.

replacement cinema is now open

Also uploaded the October 11th, 1991 ad as well.

The hotel’s website now says that the hotel will be “premiering late 2020.”

According to a brochure on the hotel’s website, the opening date for the hotel is June 2020. Among the many facilities listed in the brochure are “two screening rooms,” which I assume is a reference to the new Odeon’s two auditoria—which will of course, in any case, be available to book.

(The renderings of the hotel’s interior look impressive, but this isn’t “Hotel Treasures” (!)—suffice it to say that it’s too bad that a “hotel palace” is being completed on the site of a “picture palace.”)

A website has been launched for the hotel (“The Londoner.”) According to the site, the hotel is scheduled for opening in Spring 2020.

Photo uploaded of the 2 new screens

article about construction, including rendering of the cinemas but I only see one auditorium-where is relation to it, would be the 2nd? https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2019/07/03/inside-the-londoner-a-new-hotel-for-leicester-square/

Hi David Rayner, what a wonderful piece of history. BTW, what is happening about the two new cinemas at this site to appease us for the loss of modern history in London? Surely the new building is now complete, but no news of the promised screens.

HowardBHaas: Thanks for the links.

Wider rendering of the 2008 proposed “amorphous blob.”

Update: Had a look around the outside of the building again today—nothing of note externally visible since my last update.

davidcoppock: The original interior had long been lost—the original ceiling did remain above the one “inserted” below in 1968, albeit by the time of closure, in something of a “crumbling” state, and punctured by services in numerous locations.

Whilst the exterior was not listed, it did have a measure of protection afforded by the Leicester Square Conservation Area designation.

Looking through the planning documents in a couple of applications relating to the redevelopment of the former OWE and adjoining properties, English Heritage (as it was then) did object to the entire block being demolished. The redevelopment project has gone through a few iterations over the years; a document with the description field “EH REBUTTAL 11.10.13 – APPENDIX” in application 13/07443/FULL, makes reference to a response by English Heritage in application 08/03016/FULL—alas, I can’t find this anywhere.

(N.B. The two above-linked planning applications relate to the first and second schemes, distinct in their differences—the second scheme is the one that is under construction, albeit with some alterations set out in later applications; of particular relevance here, the cinema layout was substantially altered.)

Nevertheless, the “EH REBUTTAL 11.10.13 – APPENDIX,” whether one cares to agree with the assertions therein, is a pretty good overview of the heritage “situation” as it was.

I think it is fair to say that, whatever the merits of the replacement “basement” cinemas, and it would surely be better if they were more ambitious in scope, externally the new building looks a great deal better than what was there before; above all, the view from Orange Street of the metal sheeting to the side of the former stage house. It is also a vast improvement over the original “amorphous blob” proposals shown in the 2008 application, with its form and “rhythm” better echoing the previous Leicester Square Theatre/OWE.