Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea
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127 High Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK
General History
| This section was taken shamelessly from CinemaTreasures.org [1]. Although it's a good start, it should be reworked ASAP. |
A large and lavish cinema, the Astoria opened in a Moderne Streamlined style, with 2,750 seats on 15 July 1935.
It had a fully equipped stage and a Compton Organ with illuminated console. All lighting in the pink and bronze auditorium was indirect.
The exterior was finished in polished beige artificial stone with three large arched metal windows above the entrance - not unlike the Whitehall Theatre in London.
It had a major refurbishment in 1960 when seating was reduced to 2286 by way of increased leg room. Cinemascope was added in 1954. Closed in 1970 for a complete reconstruction involving creating Odeon 1 cinema in the old cafe area seating 500, and extending the former balcony forward to create Odeon 2 with 1350 seats.
The new result was a comfortable but rather bland auditoria. A supermarket was created in the former stalls and stage area.
The Odeon eventually closed in 1998 when a new multiplex opened in the town. The Odeon was demolished in 2004 and a university has been built on the site.
References
Beatles history
The Beatles played there on
- May 31, 1963: Live performance at Odeon Cinema in Southend-on-Sea →
- December 9, 1963: Live performance at the Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea →
