Odeon Hemel Hempstead

Prior to the deal for the Jarmans Field cinema, Odeon Cinemas MD Jim Whittel was planning to take the Odeon back from the bingo crowd and triple it along the lines of the very similar Odeon Harlow.

Thank you for the information Ian on the two other cinema’s which I now do recall. The Luxor I only remember seeing as it was being demolished, where as the Princess I passed every day to and from work at the Odeon. I made a visit to Hemel Hempstead in the late 90’s and called in at the Odeon. I had a chat with the manager and he allowed me to have a look in the projection room where I’d worked all those years ago as a young man. It brought back lots of happy memories of the times.

I was 2nd projectionist at this cinema shortly after it opened in 1960. The projection room was very spacious and had it’s own toilet and washing facilities ajoining it. The projectors were Kalee 21s and I think Ross carbon arc’s. These were water cooled because so much heat was generated by the carbons. I have a photograph of the projection room showing myself about to do a change over. I can add it to the site if anyone is interested in seeing it. There were two other cinemas in Hemel Hempstead at that time, one had already closed, but the other was still open as I remember it was showing the film ‘Saturday Night And Sunday Morning’ which became one of my favourite all time films. I can’t remember the names of either of those cinemas, but I’m sure someone will recall them who lived in Hemel at that time.

A 1989 photo of the buildings exterior with the cine-bingo signage here

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The Odeon was operating a split week Bingo/Cinema operation from 27th March 1974 and closed for films on 22nd August 1985 to become a full time Bingo Club operated by Jasmine.

It is now a pub in the Weatherspoon chain called ‘The Full House’ which opened on 21st July 1998.