The Odeon as the last performance is taking place on Thursday 14th June 2007.
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THE END!
After more than 70 years trading as Odeon, the business closes it’s doors on Chester.
Screen 1 photographed before the final film was shown.
Closure date- Thursday 14th June 2007.
It is somewhat ironic that the doors closed for the last time on a miserable windswept and rainy evening. It had been decided by the then owners of Odeon, that there would be no special performance or film to mark the final day. Many locals considered this to be contemptible as this iconic cinema deserved to be given a respectable send off. This was reflected in the poor attendance to witness the final movie, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’, which had played for several weeks beforehand.
Displayed in the entrance, with the low key announcement of closure.
One last look, minutes before locking the Odeon for the final time on Thursday 28th June 2007, two weeks after the final performance.
The cinema was handed over to the landlords- Brook Leisure on Friday 29th June 2007.
The building could no longer be officially referred to as ODEON. Chester people, of a certain age, of course will keep referring to the building as the Odeon. It has many memories for them, and links to the heart of the city. It is as much a landmark as the Town Hall itself! The company remains the leading cinema circuit in the UK, Europe, and worldwide, now owned by AMC.
The building itself has been given a tremendous revamp and renamed Storyhouse, securing it’s future for many years to come.
Ross Lewis, who worked at the Odeon Chester as duty manager at one point in his career recalls“ I have always been interested in the art deco design of the earlier cinemas, and although the Odeon had been sectioned off into five screens by the time I arrived, there was still plenty of the original features and fittings to see which to me gave the cinema a uniqueness that could not be matched in modern cinema builds. I thought that Odeon One was very impressive in design, and without doubt was my favorite screen. I liked that cinema very much, and enjoyed every minute I was there”.
Ross began employment with Odeon at another cinema. He was intrigued with the technical operation. As well as working in his downstairs position he would be found in the projection department learning the skill of film projection in his spare time. Eventually he trained in general management securing a position as duty manager. However, he decided to follow his technical interests and was appointed technician, quickly being promoted to a senior technician position.
In fact it is significant that it was Ross, and his projection colleague Phil Barrett, who returned to Chester Odeon as it closed. The technical manager had requested that they assist the company engineers in dismantling and removal of all the projection equipment over a two week period. The original Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 projectors which had been installed new in the 1960’s were shipped to Ireland. The rest of the equipment was put into company stores ready for re-use as required. Little was left in the projection rooms, other than some unwanted stands.
chestercinemas.co.uk
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