Bolton, BL1 1TF
Owners: Odeon Theatres (Bolton) Ltd. Oscar Deutsch.
Architect: W. Calder Robson and Harry Weedon.
Cost: £49,500.
Seating Capacity: 2534.
Compton 3Manual/8Ranks organ: Played by Harry Croft on the Gala Opening.
First General Manager: George Abercrombie.
Date opened: Saturday 21st August 1937.
Guests in attendance: George Formby, Conrad Veidt. Hosted by Oscar Deutsch.
First film shown: ‘Dark Journey’, starring Conrad Veidt, Vivien Leigh.
Date Closed: Saturday 8th January 1983.
Final film shown: ‘Mary Poppins’, starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke.
Bolton Odeon
Sited on a prominent corner position of Ashburner and Black Horse Streets, this mammoth structure occupied the whole island site block in the centre of Bolton. With seating in the circle for 936 and stalls holding 1598 the cinema was one of the largest of the original Odeons opened by Oscar Deutsch up to that date. At £49,500, it cost considerable more than previous Odeons. The architects were Harry Weedon & W. Calder Robson.
The elevated front of the building was clad in cream faience tiles with borders of green tiles and black tiles at street level.. Six deep set high windows were placed above the main entrance doors topped with a giant of an Odeon neon sign. The cinema also boasted a large café.
The first floor café.
The ceiling of the auditorium was stepped down towards the stage, with fluted or what could be described as vertical corrugation finish walls. The overall appearance lacked decorative plaster-work with reliance given to the subtle lighting to give atmosphere. However, the wide proscenium was flanked honeycomb grill work.
The rear circle of the Odeon Bolton
The Gala Opening took place on Saturday 21st August 1937 when the First Battalion of the Royal Scots struck up the opening music.
Pictured in the circle lounge of the Odeon Bolton on opening day.
Local dignitaries mixing with stars of stage and screen. They are pictured here with George Formby, centre front, who was top of the guest list. Film star Conrad Veidt, back fourth left. Oscar Deutsch, back five left. Beryl Formby, front third left. Lillian Deutsch, front fourth left.
The COMPTON organ at the Odeon Bolton
Organist Harry Croft opened the Compton 3Manual/8Ranks organ with illuminated console which rose from the centre of the pit in front of the stage.
The capacity audience was treated to the Gaumont British Sound News, a cartoon, and the main feature film, ‘Dark Journey’, starring Conrad Veidt and Vivien Leigh.
The entrance foyer of Bolton Odeon
February’s programme 1938.
Odeon Bolton. Projection room.
Like many large cinemas, it’s stage could be put into use for concerts and during the 1960s hosted pop shows.
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The modernised foyer photographed in 1969.
It became one of the early triple screen conversions during 1972, with a disappointing two small screens in the stalls area and the circle becoming the largest screen.
One of the Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 projectors used at the Odeon Bolton from the mid 1960s.
Just eleven years later all three closed on Saturday 8th January 1983 with ‘Mary Poppins’ in Screen 1, ‘Hooper. in Screen 2 and ‘Flash Gordon’ in Screen 3.
The building was converted back to a single auditorium for Top Rank bingo use. Re-named Mecca Bingo it closed during November 2004 and after laying derelict it was demolished in February 2007
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