Odeon Cinema

Description

This information is taken from the statutory List as it was in 2001 and may not be up to date.

The following buildings shall be added to the list;

WESTON-SUPER-MARE REGENT STREET 1.

5121 ST3261NW 11/85 Odeon Cinema

II

Cinema, now adapted to three auditoria. 1935, by T Cecil Hewitt. Reinforced concrete structure faced with faience tile, some black opaque glass, other areas of ground floor now painted black; slate hangings to vertical surfaces to roof structures, roof not visible, probably asphalt. A characteristic corner position with generous quadrant curve to fascia over main doors, and a square tower with flat slab carried on 12 squat round columns as a vertical statement. Facades are in paired buff tiles set in basket-weave pattern, with horizontal bands incorporating green tiles at the parapets. All steel windows, a large vertical unit to lesser tower adjoining main tower in quadrant, and to each of facades to Regent Street and The Centre groups of 5 and 3 windows respectively at first and second floors: all of these the original casements with horizontal bars. Ground floor has series of plate glass shop fronts, with sets of paired doors around the quadrant, and under a flat slab to the fascia, now in red plastic. At the far right end in Regent Street some of the black facing glass ('Vitrolite') remains.

Original lettering 'Odeon' on tower. Backs relatively inaccessible with rendered brick walling. The Interior still retains most of the original fittings such as suspended lighting fittings, and a large octagonal ceiling coffer to the upper foyer; doors have vision panels with three applied horizontal bars; fluted cornices patterned grilles over exit doors. The main front stalls and balcony of the auditorium, with screen and proscenium all seems to be as the original design, with fluted pilasters and faceted sides to the proscenium. One of the octagonal clocks remains, as also the theatre organ with the raising and lowering mechanism.

Under the original balcony two small studio auditoria have been inserted, but with minimal damage to the concealment of the designer's detail.

This is a good representative of the pre-war 'Odeon' style, with minimal alteration within and without. It holds a vital position on a prominent corner in the town, in a way not often achieved by corner properties.

Listing NGR: ST3213061299

Content

This is part of the Series: IOE01/1303 IOE Records taken by Robert Mair; within the Collection: IOE01 Images Of England

Rights

© Mr Robert Mair. Source: Historic England Archive

This photograph was taken for the Images of England project