New Campaign to Save the Odeon Cinema

posted by Tim on January 27, 2004 at 1:37 pm

YORK, ENGLAND — The campaign to save the Odeon Cinema has received a boost with the backing of our local newspaper who have been producing posters and articles of support.

This threatened cinema is the last of York’s original picture houses and externally is little altered from its opening day in 1937. The current owners are looking at the sites “economic viability” which sadly could mean the selling off and closure of the cinema.

Part of Englands 1930’s Odeon national circuit, built up by impressario Oscar Deutsch, the York Odeon is of a unique red brick design and retains a now unique Odeon sign. Internally, although tripled in 1972, many decorative features survive on view, whilst some have been hidden in later modernisations. One such feature is a large decorative frieze of historical figures and a 1930’s film crew which graced the walls of the balcony foyer. This is reputed to survive in the void above a later lowered ceiling and is something we hope will be uncovered in the future.

However the focus is now on keeping this popular cinema open and we are pleased to announce that in its first week of launch our campaign has attracted over 2,000 people who have signed up their support.

Further news of the campaign and an online petition form can be found on the newspaper’s website at www.thisisyork.co.uk.

I would like to ask if visitors to this site would consider using this online form to register their support. That way you are helping us in our fight to keep the Odeon open for future generations of film fans. Thank you for your support.

Theaters in this post

• Everyman York