Comments from Ian

Ian commented about Hippodrome Theatre on Apr 10, 2008 at 3:07 pm

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Derby Hippodrome High Court judgement welcomed by The Theatres Trust

10th April 2008

Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust attended the High Court hearing held today in London where Derby City Council (the claimant) applied for an injunction to prevent the owner of the Derby Hippodrome (the respondent) from carrying out further demolition of the theatre. In the three and a half hour hearing the owner continued to assert that his experts declared the building was unsafe and required demolition, contrary to the views of the Council and English Heritage who considered that the building was safe to the public on the street and could be saved.

The respondent’s barrister stated that the owner was not required by listed building legislation to preserve the theatre and intended to demolish the building. He raised the issue of asbestos in the safety curtain and that this continued to pose a health and safety risk. The owner wanted to remove it by using a machine to go in and lift it out of the building. He said that the proscenium would not survive this process of removal.

Mhora Samuel said, “I was very concerned to hear that the owner’s approach to making the building safe would result in the loss of the proscenium. I am pleased that the final judgement issued by the court identified that it is a criminal offence to undertake works to a listed building without consent, and that whilst he was not in a position to adjudicate on this matter, the judge did state that advance notice of the works to the roof on the 28 March had not been given to Derby City Council. I now urge the Council to proceed with prosecution and enforcement to have the theatre restored.”

The view of the judge, Mr Justice Saunders, was that the status quo should be retained until a proper trial could take place but issues of health and safety were serious considerations that needed attention. Faced with ‘two sets of experts diametrically opposed to each other’, both parties agreed to the appointment of an independent expert who would produce a report on the state of the building for a further hearing on the week beginning 21 April. In the meantime the judge ordered that the health and safety issues in the building be kept under close scrutiny by both parties.

Ian commented about Picture House on Apr 4, 2008 at 4:30 am

The Elite is indeed open again for movies and stage performances in 2008, it has now been renamed the Picture house and is enthusiastically run by a team of volunteers. It has two performances daily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as a general rule.

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Ian commented about Odeon Luxe Darlington on Apr 3, 2008 at 8:03 am

The Odeon continues in April 2008. Despite being done by ABC the tripling preserved much of the art deco detailing of this cinema as can be seen in these April 2008 shots:–

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Ian commented about Hippodrome Theatre on Mar 28, 2008 at 5:41 pm

Devastating news. This was a structurally sound building of national importance.

A press release will be issued in the next days regarding this destruction.

Ian commented about Metro Majestic Cinema on Mar 17, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Three exterior pictures from March 2008 here:–

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Ian commented about Oddfellows Hall Cinema on Mar 17, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Two photographs of the building taken in March 2008 here:–

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Ian commented about Grand Pavilion on Mar 14, 2008 at 5:31 am

Another earlier photo of the top of the Pros arch and start of the arches at upper circle level (hidden behind the partition wall in the auditorium photos) here, showing how the building has been modernised, whilst retaining the basic structure.

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Ian commented about Rosehill Theatre on Mar 10, 2008 at 11:55 am

Four more photos – two interior two exterior:–

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Ian commented about Regent Cinema on Mar 10, 2008 at 9:35 am

Exterior photos of the Regent here:–

1978 still as a cinema
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1996 as a showroom
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Ian commented about St. Helens Theatre Royal on Mar 9, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Exterior photo here:–

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Ian commented about Rivoli Cinema on Mar 9, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Photograph of the Rivoli here:–

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Ian commented about Hippodrome Cinema on Mar 9, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Photographs of the Hippodrome, taken in 1996, can be seen here:–

Exterior
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Interior
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