The Odeon Cinema Angel Row Nottingham

Photo:Odeon Cinema Angel Row Nottingham 1986

Odeon Cinema Angel Row Nottingham 1986

www.picturethepast.org.uk

Photo:Buildings on Angel Row Nottingham (Including the Odeon Cinema) 1955

Buildings on Angel Row Nottingham (Including the Odeon Cinema) 1955

www.picturethepast.org.uk

Demolition marks the end of an era

Before it was an Odeon cinema, the site on Angel Row, Nottingham was occupied by a Ritz cinema.

Set up by Oscar Deutsch in the early 1930's, the Odeon Theatre chain was acquired by the Rank Organisation in 1941.

In 1960, the Angel Row Odeon benefited from a major modernisation programme which included the installation of a large screen, a stage and a modern foyer. The refurbished cinema featured cheaper seats in the first 2 rows from the front ranging to more expensive seats at the back.

In the 1960s, a further refurbishment saw the cinema become a multi-screen cinema – it was the world’s first twin-screen cinema.

It was a popular venue for pop music events during the 1960s, with The Beatles playing there on the 12th December 1963 .

On the 21st February 2000 , the Rank Group announced it was to sell off its Odeon cinema chain. Some cinemas survived, but the Nottingham Odeon did not and closed for good in January 2001.

The last film to be screened, on 28th January 2001 , was The cinema of the Seventies – a locally made film about the Odeon opening as the world’s first twin screen cinema in 1965.

Since its closure the Odeon building has stood empty. Over the years several different proposals were suggested for its use, until finally the current scheme for a high-rise retail and residential complex was accepted.

Demolition began in mid-September 2012 and rebuilding will follow immediately afterwards.

This page was added by H W on 25/09/2012.
Comments about this page

I have very happy memories of the Odeon Cinema. My father was assistant manager there around 1956 and I was featured in the magazine 'Circle Number 19' aged 3, I was the cover girl. I have also a copy of the edition (later one) of me with the Lord Mayor hanging a doll on the christmas tree in the Foyer. My father Brain Hardy left just before the Beatles appeared in Nottingham but we were fortunate enough to get 2 tickets, I was 11 at the time. My regret was that had he still been there I would have met them. I have been taking a few pictures of the demolition from the window of my office- very sad, it was a beautiful building in its hey day.

By Jacqui Granger
On 23/10/2012

My dad worked at the Odeon cinema  that's where I saw Alamo and Spartacus my dad raymond newton took me to see them my happy memories  I was 12 at the time 

 

By Betty newton
On 01/10/2019

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