Odeon Pennine Derby
Colyear Street,
Derby,
DE1 1LA
Colyear Street,
Derby,
DE1 1LA
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cinecenta, Rank Organisation
Architects: John Ambrose
Firms: Julian Keable & Partners
Previous Names: Superama Cinema
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The Superama Cinema was the last purpose built single screen to open in Derby. It was a project of the Compton Cinema Group who were well known in the central London area as being producers and exhibitors of soft core and semi-hard core Continental sex films. The Derby Superama Cinema was the 2nd luxury ‘roadshow’ cinema they had opened (the 1st was the Scala Superama Cinema in Birmingham in 1965) in a bid to obtain respectability in the cinema business.
The Superama Cinema opened on 9th February 1967 with Charlton Heston in “Khartoum”, which was presented in 70mm as a roadshow engagement. The cinema entrance was located at street level with the single floor steeply raked auditorium hidden beneath the newly built Pennine Hotel which was operated by the Rank Organisation and adjacent to the a newly built Top Rank Bowl.
The architect of the cinema was John Ambrose of the firm Julian Keable & Partners. It was a truly luxurious cinema, with stadium seating, curtained walls which were illuminated by downlighting all around the edge of the ceiling in changing coloured lights. There was a massive curved screen, which proved ideal for the ‘roadshow’ blockbusters that were to be played there and numerous speakers around the walls which gave the stereo and surround sound of the day. There was an advance booking system and the cinema also had a licenced bar.
“The Sound of Music” played for 26 weeks, an unheard of length of time for a Derby cinema, but because Compton were an independent exhiibitor, they found it difficult to obtain films to play whenever audiences started to wane on a long running film.
From 22nd February 1970 the Superama was taken over by the Rank Organisation and re-named Odeon Pennine. However they tripled the Odeon (former Gaumont) London Road in December 1974 and this made the Odeon Pennine surplus to requirements. It closed on 31st October 1975 with Roger Daltry and Oliver Reed in “Tommy”.
After closure the auditorium was stripped out and re-floored and has had several ownerships and names as disco and nightclub use. It has been Sadies Discotheque, Molly Magoos, Brannigan’s, Destiny, Elite & Union. Currently part of the building is Heroes 2 wine bar. Last operated as Redemption nightclub, it had closed by 2018 and the building together with the former hotel have been purchased by Derby Council for redevelopment. It was still standing vacant in April 2019. It was demolished, together with the Pennine Hotel in early-2022.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
A recent (May 2007) shot of the former Odeon Pennine:–
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I remember this cinema with great affection.It really was luxurious.I watched the Sound of Music at least four times,the screen and sound system was second to none,the seating was so comfortable,you could almost imagine you were sat in an armchair.I’m in my late fifties now and have very fond memories of Derbys cinemas notably the Gaumont on London road,Art-deco at it’s finest.Also the A.B.C cinema in East street.I live abroad now,but am occasionally in Derby(My place of birth).I like to go on a nostalgia trip,and get a warm glow,reliving my cinema past!What joy! Mikob.
In August 2013 it was occupied by a club called Redemption.
This was the best cinema in Derby. The projectors were remotely operated from a position to the audience’s right of the projection room. It had Cinemecannica Victoria 8 duel-gauge projectors and six-track stereophonic sound. It was the best place to see a film in the town. Mrs. O'Frear was the manager, when I was in the town. I was lucky enough to see the film “Ben Hur” in 70mm on the big screen in this cinema and it was awe-inspiring.
As part of the redevelopment of the area, the Pennine Hotel and the area that housed this cinema has now been demolished.
A Youtube channel [comedyhunter] has posted a new video showing the progress of the redevelopment of the Becket Well area of Derby. At about 1min 50 you can see the original stepping’s of the cinema now all the Pennine Hotel demolition rubble has gone.
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