The Odeon Theatre, Rutland Street, Leicester
This cinema was built in 1936-8. It was designed by Robert Bullivant of Harry Weedon's Office for the Odeon Cinema group. It was opened on the 28th July 1938 with a screening of 'A Slight Case of Murder'. The seating capacity was 2,182, with 1,307 in the stalls and 875 in the circle. The cinema was divided into 3 smaller cinemas in 1974. 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.
