jbn6773
Member
The Odeon was built for and operated by Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres Ltd chain. It opened on 25th February 1939. The auditorium was converted into a triple screen cinema from 29th September 1974 with 720 seats in the former balcony and two screens seating 110 each in the rear stalls area. In 1989 a fourth screen seating 254 was created in the former front stalls area.
The Odeon was re-furbished in 1999, but sadly closed on 24th June 2001 (a new 11 screen- 2,564 seat UGC Multiplex opened 22nd June on St. John's Street). In November 2001 the former Odeon re-opened as a 1,000 capacity Jumpin' Jaks nightclub, with the sub-divisions removed but only the stalls being used.
Jumpin' Jaks closed in 2005 and in January 2006, plans were put forward to demolish the former Odeon and build a 27 storey high-rise block of residential units on the site. The Odeon was demolished in July 2006, though the site remains empty, with no sign of work on the high-rise imminent.
I was able to pay a visit thanks to some helpful demolition workers
View of the front
Side view showing the tower feature. An inspection from inside the tower showed the 'ODEON' signage was still in situ behind the Jumpin Jaks sign
Looking from the main entrance towards the back of the foyer, on the second photo you can see on the back wall between the two pillars where the original staircase to balcony was located
Then towards the main entrance from the back of the foyer (used as toilets for Jumpin Jaks)
The staircase to the upper foyer (during its time as Odeon) was located between the two pillars, goin upwards towards my camera. The photo to the right shows that staircase
remains of toilets in old foyer area
stalls area
Battery room entrance, on corridor just below top of tower, next to projection room. Projection room with Jumpin Jaks ventilation ducts
The upper foyer, the light section on the floor is where the original staircase from main foyer to balcony would have been
Toilets from cinema days
offices
switch rooms ?
Fire exit from balcony
looking to side wall of balcony, with original radiator in situ
looking towards front of balcony, the area of light to the left is from a fire exit installed when the circle was divided from the stalls
Sounds painful!!!
algiers point?? front stalls area, (stage right)
The tower from outside projection room
More photos of the Odeon including some from its collapse during demolition can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbn6773
The Odeon was re-furbished in 1999, but sadly closed on 24th June 2001 (a new 11 screen- 2,564 seat UGC Multiplex opened 22nd June on St. John's Street). In November 2001 the former Odeon re-opened as a 1,000 capacity Jumpin' Jaks nightclub, with the sub-divisions removed but only the stalls being used.
Jumpin' Jaks closed in 2005 and in January 2006, plans were put forward to demolish the former Odeon and build a 27 storey high-rise block of residential units on the site. The Odeon was demolished in July 2006, though the site remains empty, with no sign of work on the high-rise imminent.
I was able to pay a visit thanks to some helpful demolition workers
View of the front
Side view showing the tower feature. An inspection from inside the tower showed the 'ODEON' signage was still in situ behind the Jumpin Jaks sign
Looking from the main entrance towards the back of the foyer, on the second photo you can see on the back wall between the two pillars where the original staircase to balcony was located
Then towards the main entrance from the back of the foyer (used as toilets for Jumpin Jaks)
The staircase to the upper foyer (during its time as Odeon) was located between the two pillars, goin upwards towards my camera. The photo to the right shows that staircase
remains of toilets in old foyer area
stalls area
Battery room entrance, on corridor just below top of tower, next to projection room. Projection room with Jumpin Jaks ventilation ducts
The upper foyer, the light section on the floor is where the original staircase from main foyer to balcony would have been
Toilets from cinema days
offices
switch rooms ?
Fire exit from balcony
looking to side wall of balcony, with original radiator in situ
looking towards front of balcony, the area of light to the left is from a fire exit installed when the circle was divided from the stalls
Sounds painful!!!
algiers point?? front stalls area, (stage right)
The tower from outside projection room
More photos of the Odeon including some from its collapse during demolition can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbn6773
