Some photos of the Athena – exterior, foyer and auditorium – taken in March 2009 can be found here. After 6 years of dereliction, it is amazing that the building has been saved and looks so good now!
The council owned complex is currently (early 2009) under the threat of closure in a cost-cutting exercise. There is no other cinema within the town. The building is very well maintained and also contains the Martineau Hall, plus the usual bars and catering facilities.
On 12th February the demolition team seemed to be preparing to cut off the water and power supplies to the buildings, including the Astoria, on the corner of Charing Cross Road.
Some photos taken this week – February 2009 – of the interiors of the two cinemas, and (just for Simon Overton) a shot of the exterior from the other side – note how the signage is angled away towards Leicester Square!
A good conversion, with the new screen luxuriously fitted out. Interesting to see the unusual arrangement for the new projection suite at the front of the former balcony.
The Plaza was inserted into the Assembly rooms after a fire damaged the original room. Parts of the plasterwork have been relocated in the new Howard Assembly Rooms ( which are adaptable and acoustically superb – just a shame that the fine Plaza auditorium was obliterated to re-create the original design). Photos from February 2009 here:–
A couple of minor amendments – the cinema reopened on the 29th February 2008, and the Club on 29th November 2007. Seating is in individual armchairs in the front stalls area. The cinema seems to have been owned throughout it’s first life by Star Cinemas (Gainsborough) Limited. Some photographs taken in December 2008 here:–
Three photos taken in March 2009 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3343122827/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3343122689/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3343955732/
Three photos taken in March 2009 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3343123487/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3343123257/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3343123063/
Some photos of the Athena – exterior, foyer and auditorium – taken in March 2009 can be found here. After 6 years of dereliction, it is amazing that the building has been saved and looks so good now!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3341124752/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3340296391/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3341124304/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3341124002/
Photos from March 2009 here:–
Exterior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3336782769/
Interior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3337612842/
Two more photos of the Odeon taken in March 2009.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3337612592/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3337612334/
The Dorking Halls contains two cinemas, the Premier is full time and housed in a lovely old style auditorium with retractable seats,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3336781427/
and the Great Hall is used for one nights and a summer film season seating 801
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3337611462/
The council owned complex is currently (early 2009) under the threat of closure in a cost-cutting exercise. There is no other cinema within the town. The building is very well maintained and also contains the Martineau Hall, plus the usual bars and catering facilities.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3336781695/
Two 2008 night shots of the Arts Centre here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3064765146/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3063923815/
Another 2007 photo here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/361608983/
Recent photos here (February 2009)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3313868950/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3313042207/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3313868610/
Another photo of the cinema as a supermarket here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/141621221/
On 12th February the demolition team seemed to be preparing to cut off the water and power supplies to the buildings, including the Astoria, on the corner of Charing Cross Road.
A few last pictures of the Astoria here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3280155534/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3280155052/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3280154732/
Films seem like they may be discontinued after the Hippodrome has changed hands –
View link
Some photos taken this week – February 2009 – of the interiors of the two cinemas, and (just for Simon Overton) a shot of the exterior from the other side – note how the signage is angled away towards Leicester Square!
Exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277684583/
Downstairs screen and new projection box:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277684883/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3278507494/
Upstairs (new) screen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277685281/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3277685117/
A good conversion, with the new screen luxuriously fitted out. Interesting to see the unusual arrangement for the new projection suite at the front of the former balcony.
More images can be seen here:
Exterior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/2057660274/
Interior
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/2057660046/
No that is the same cinema.
The Plaza was inserted into the Assembly rooms after a fire damaged the original room. Parts of the plasterwork have been relocated in the new Howard Assembly Rooms ( which are adaptable and acoustically superb – just a shame that the fine Plaza auditorium was obliterated to re-create the original design). Photos from February 2009 here:–
Interior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3265079994/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3264256335/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3265080688/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3265071554/
and an exterior:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3264245641/
Photographs taken in December 2008 here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3134487145/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3135308432/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3135308328/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3134486779/
A few more photographs from December 2008:-
Exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3117201711/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3117201575/
Interior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3117201821/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3118028632/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3118028472/
A few more shots of the Civic from 1997 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/406838873/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/406838867/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/406838871/
Another shot of the Majestic / Odeon which is looking in a sad state now:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/2384362901/
A couple of minor amendments – the cinema reopened on the 29th February 2008, and the Club on 29th November 2007. Seating is in individual armchairs in the front stalls area. The cinema seems to have been owned throughout it’s first life by Star Cinemas (Gainsborough) Limited. Some photographs taken in December 2008 here:–
Exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3110261956/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3110262134/
Foyer:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3109430313/
Auditorium:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3110262670/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3109430413/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3109430517/
At the time of demolition there was talk of the stage grid and machinery being dismantled and saved – does anyone know if this actually happened?
Two exterior photographs from 1994 here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/332053553/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/332053554/
Photographs taken in 1994 can be found here:
Exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/331843068/
Interior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/331843066/
A photo taken around 1978ish – must have been very soon after opening – here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/1171344678/
Photo from 1994 here:–
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/332041865/