Just stumbled across this -

 

IT is the end of an era as workmen move in to demolish the former Odeon cinema building in Bolton town centre.

 

Developer Woodthorpe Homes wants to turn the venue -which also hosted pop music acts such as Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry and the Bee Gees - into an 11-storey hotel, residential and retail complex.

 

The Manchester-based firm submitted initial plans to Bolton Council on Monday and demolition work has already begun on the Art Deco building.

 

The scheme includes 50 luxury apartments, offices, basement parking for 86 cars and offices and shops on the ground floor. The hotel section would occupy up to the eighth floor.

 

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, Bolton Council's executive member for development, said: "This scheme is part of the wider cultural and innovation quarter for the town centre.

 

"Hopefully, it would fit in quite nicely with the concept of a culture and leisure area.

 

I've seen the drawings and they look very impressive."

 

More than 2,600 people packed the Odeon Theatre on its first night - August 21, 1937 - when the First Battalion of the Royal Scots struck up the opening music.

 

The audience was treated to the Gaumont British Sound News, a cartoon, and three films, including the feature film, Dark Journey, starring Conrad Veidt and Vivien Leigh.

 

For the next 45 years, it was one of Bolton's best-loved venues and hosted 1960s acts such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers, Dusty Springfield and Freddie and the Dreamers. Following interior rebuilding, its three screens showed thousands of films before it closed in January, 1983, when it was turned into a bingo hall amid protests from cinemagoers.

 

After a ??370,000 refit, it was opened by Paul Shane, star of the BBC comedy series, Hi-De-Hi, in February, 1983.

 

In later years, the old cinema was used by Mecca until it moved its bingo hall operation to the current site off Moor Lane in November, 2004.

 

http://www.thisisbolton.co.uk/mostpopular....on.php#comments

 

I used to go along to the Saturday morning kids club as a child - still remember parts of the 'anthem' we had to sing which went something like this -

 

We come along on a Saturday morning - greeting everybody with a smile.

As members of the Odeon (?) Club we all intend to be - good citizens when we grow up and champions of the free.

 

 

 

There won't be anything from my childhood days left soon!!!

 

you're not wrong, baldy! next to the dance factory!

 

 

I see there was no tears shed when Dimples shut!

 

What about the Baldies of Bolton?!

 

I take it Lazer Quest has shut down? And has the fashion for expensive shitty tasting vodkas stopped in Bolton? I which case please tell me that Revolution closed!

Wasn't Dimples the shop on Bradshawgate next to the other cinema?

 

Yes thats right ! I never saw anybody go in it ! or come out !

Bloody hell, how long is it since you've been to Bolton?

 

Revolution closed years ago. Think it became another bar for a while and is now an 'all you can eat for a fiver' chinese restaurant. Having a chilli vodka in there put me off for life :shudder:

ODEON = Oscar Deutsch entertains our nation

ODEON = Oscar Deutsch entertains our nation

 

very good, but probably not

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odeon_Cinemas

very good, but probably not

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odeon_Cinemas

 

Wiki says " In August 2006 Ireland opened it's first Odeon"

Kinell, flared kex will be arriving next on the Emerald isle.

Edited February 26, 200719 yr by Burndens Bogs

The Odeon company is most famously associated with J Arthur Rank

 

 

Blimey what sort of films did they show there?

Blimey what sort of films did they show there?

 

Debbie Does Daubhill?

Confessions of a Binman

I remember Bugsy Malone. They had one of the pedal cars in the foyer.

 

Also getting turfed out of the Monty Python & the Life of Brian / Blazing Saddles double bill for being to young.

I remember Bugsy Malone. They had one of the pedal cars in the foyer.

 

Also getting turfed out of the Monty Python & the Life of Brian / Blazing Saddles double bill for being to young.

 

I saw all 3 of those at the Odeon - took my youngest sister to the Bugsy Malone.

This is the best I could do to find a picture of the 'wig' shop.

 

I'd forgotten all about it before it was mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

Oh right, so both cinemas had wig shops next door...

 

bizarre!

Oh right, so both cinemas had wig shops next door...

 

bizarre!

 

I don't remember any shops along side the Odeon - as far as I can recall it stood alone.

 

There were shops across the road from it - maybe there was a wig shop there?

This is the best I could do to find a picture of the 'wig' shop.

 

I'd forgotten all about it before it was mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

 

Bloody hell Sluffy. Got me thinking that did. Capitol on Churchgate? Two theatres - Hippodrome and one on Churchgate. Think the Hippodrome was the one opposite the old GPO on Deansgate. Can't remember the name o't one near t'Parish Church? I am sure someone will be able to refresh my memory and come up with the odd photo.

 

Just had a flashback. I am sure the one on Churchgate was the Grand?

Edited March 1, 200719 yr by bolty58

Bloody hell Sluffy. Got me thinking that did. Capitol on Churchgate? Two theatres - Hippodrome and one on Churchgate. Think the Hippodrome was the one opposite the old GPO on Deansgate. Can't remember the name o't one near t'Parish Church? I am sure someone will be able to refresh my memory and come up with the odd photo.

 

Just had a flashback. I am sure the one on Churchgate was the Grand?

 

A few pictures and links for you -

 

The Hippodrome

 

This picture was probably taken from the top of the fire station in Marsden Road. The post office in deansgate can be clearly seen opposite the theatre.

 

http://www.bolton.org.uk/hippodrome.html

 

Churchgate

 

 

Ye Olde Pasty Shoppe

 

 

The fountains facing the Town Hall steps -

 

 

The Bird Cage inside the Arndale -

 

This is an old picture from the inside, you can just see the birdcage, but the fountain has been emptied by this point.

 

Happy days!!!

 

(All the pictures taken from this site - http://www.bolton.org.uk/index.html )

The fountains facing the Town Hall steps -

 

 

I fell in there when I was about 4yrs old, got p1ssed wet through, got a new outfit for my troubles

aaaah happy days ! i remember that bird cage very well, and those funny gold statues ! ! thanks for that photo !

Cheers for the Hippodrome photo Sluffy. Question - did it burn down or did I imagine that?

I fell in there when I was about 4yrs old, got p1ssed wet through, got a new outfit for my troubles

 

Are you telling me the fountains have gone as well.

Are you telling me the fountains have gone as well.

 

 

Loved those statues! Just reminds me of going shopping in C & A on late night shopping with my mum to get one of those Ski jackets everyone had - Campri Ski rocks! Or De Gamo, ones that you had to pull over your head.

 

Although I never actually been sking something tells me on the piste they weren't wearing C & A own brand.

 

 

Crawley off in his own little world.......

Edited March 1, 200719 yr by Crawley White

Not you as well ! so did i ! aah but did you go to the Cavendish for a Knickerbocker Glory afterwards ? !

Not you as well ! so did i ! aah but did you go to the Cavendish for a Knickerbocker Glory afterwards ? !

 

'Fraid not, it was always Maccy D's for a treat or to that cafe in the middle of the Market Place, can't remember its name or if its still there. Always full of old women!

 

Still, took a while to get there are we always had to go to Dash to kit out my little sister or Clockhouse.

'Fraid not, it was always Maccy D's for a treat or to that cafe in the middle of the Market Place, can't remember its name or if its still there. Always full of old women!

 

Still, took a while to get there are we always had to go to Dash to kit out my little sister or Clockhouse.

 

Market place has gone now too! to be replace by some bland shopping centre the same as every other town in the land!

Market place has gone now too! to be replace by some bland shopping centre the same as every other town in the land!

 

The Market Place is already a bland shopping centre the same as every other town in the land.

You're referring to the market hall.