There is one photo on Flickr of Screen 2, seemingly taken just after the 1978 tripling.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/3334701547/
Other than that one – and a photo of the staff taken in the foyer – I’ve not seen any other photo’s of the interior that were taken when the cinema was still alive.
Regarding the removal of the cladding, the architectural plans relating to the metal covering reads “Profile of projecting cornices and band courses to be cut back to line of pies(?) faces”.
From poking my head through the windows, the stonework does not appear to be in particularly good shape. The balustrade on top of the curved section has been removed and replaced with brick.
If the metal cladding were to be removed, the front of the building probably wouldn’t look too pretty. The bricking up of windows and cementing was not done with much consideration of asthetics.
This was not just a cinema. It was the Ritz Super Cinema, allegedly the “most luxurious cinema in the district”, with concealed lighting capable of complex combinations.
It was the only cinema in Mansfield (until the building of the Odeon multiplex) to have its own car park.
Nowadays it’s a shell. The auditorium has been stripped out, although you can still see traces of the proscenium and where the concealed lighting in the ceiling once was.
I have an extensive collection of photographs “mapping” the interior, taken in 2012.
Downstairs, there’s not much left, but the circle, offices and staircases, and backstage are still there.
There is one photo on Flickr of Screen 2, seemingly taken just after the 1978 tripling. http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/3334701547/
Other than that one – and a photo of the staff taken in the foyer – I’ve not seen any other photo’s of the interior that were taken when the cinema was still alive.
Regarding the removal of the cladding, the architectural plans relating to the metal covering reads “Profile of projecting cornices and band courses to be cut back to line of pies(?) faces”. From poking my head through the windows, the stonework does not appear to be in particularly good shape. The balustrade on top of the curved section has been removed and replaced with brick. If the metal cladding were to be removed, the front of the building probably wouldn’t look too pretty. The bricking up of windows and cementing was not done with much consideration of asthetics.
Is the whole building in use? Seems a little large for a fish and chip shop.
The bulldozers have started. The Odeon Nottingham shall shortly be no more.
I’ve got some recent ones, that I’ll upload for reference.
A particular shame that this was demolished, as the ceiling and proscenium were in pristine condition, and the building had no signs of damp.
This was not just a cinema. It was the Ritz Super Cinema, allegedly the “most luxurious cinema in the district”, with concealed lighting capable of complex combinations. It was the only cinema in Mansfield (until the building of the Odeon multiplex) to have its own car park.
Nowadays it’s a shell. The auditorium has been stripped out, although you can still see traces of the proscenium and where the concealed lighting in the ceiling once was.
The rear wall of the Empire still stands behind the billboards.
Some of the older residents of Mansfield still refer to this junction as “Empire corner”.
This photo was taken in 1964 and shows the front after it was rebuilt in 1923. Photo’s of the original original frontage have been uploaded.
I have an extensive collection of photographs “mapping” the interior, taken in 2012. Downstairs, there’s not much left, but the circle, offices and staircases, and backstage are still there.