Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square, Westminster, Greater London
A portrait of four usherettes in the foyer of the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square. This photograph may have been taken on the cinema's opening night - Tuesday 2nd November 1937. The cinema had taken seven months to build at a cost of £232,755 and had 2116 seats. Oscar Deutsch's flagship Odeon cinema was built on the site of the Alhambra Theatre in Leicester Square, designed by Harry Weedon and Andrew Mather. It has hosted many key cinematic events and continues to operate under the Odeon name (2025). The Odeon cinema company was founded in 1930 by Oscar Deutsch. During the 1930s, it grew to become one of the country’s major chains of cinemas. The first five Odeon cinemas opened in 1933, and by 1936 there were 142 across the country. Although each Odeon was unique, the use of a set range of architectural features meant that most of the cinemas were instantly recognisable as an 'Odeon', with their distinctive Modernist style. The slogan, ‘Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation’ (ODEON) was also synonymous with the brand.
