This building was originally the Victoria Hall, which opened in 1888. In 1920 it was converted into the Victoria Picture House, but this closed in April 1936 after it was purchased by Oscar Deutsch for his Odeon Cinema chain. The building was extensively remodelled both internally and externally, to bring it into line with the Odeon brand, and on 19th September 1936 it reopened as an Odeon Cinema. It was closed in 1960 and susequently converted into a Bingo Club. This closed in 1972, and in 1974 the building was demolished, to be replaced by a shopping centre.
The Odeon cinema chain was founded in 1930 by Oscar Deutsch. During the 1930s, it grew to become one of the country’s major circuits of cinemas, alongside Gaumont and Associated British Cinemas. The first five Odeon cinemas opened in 1933, and by 1936 there were 142 across the country.
Odeon was a style-leader in cinema design, with extensive use of German inspired, highly streamlined, Modernist design. Deutsch was a pioneer in the use of architectural design and set out to create a readily-recognisable corporate image for the company’s cinemas. Although each Odeon was unique, the use of a range of architectural devices meant that most of the cinemas were instantly recognisable as Odeons, with their distinctive Modernist style. The slogan, ‘Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation’ was also synonymous with the brand.
The principal architects for Odeon were Harry Weedon, Cecil Clavering, and Robert Bullivant, although some cinemas in the chain were designed by other architects. In 1935 Odeon commissioned John Maltby to photograph the exteriors and interiors of their cinemas, and the resulting collection of images are now held by the Historic England Archive.
This is part of the Volume: BF053127 Odeon Cinema, Gold Street, Kettering; within the Collection: MAL02 John Maltby
© Historic England Archive
Photographer: Maltby, John
Art Deco, Mid 20th Century Cinema, Meeting Hall, Leisure And Recreation