Odeon Dundee

The Gaumont was Rank’s only city centre cinema in Dundee. During the fifties it played the Gaumont release while the usually superior Odeon release played at the Kinnaird. Playhouse and La Scala (the “Odeon Dundee” was a poorly located second run house). From 1959 when Rank reorganised its releases the Gaumont was designated the Rank release house, leaving the independents to pick up the inferior National release. It is somewhat surprising that Rank didn’t take the opportunity to re-name the Gaumont to Odeon after the six week closure for refurbishment in 1961. The Odeon could have reverted to its original name, which would have been perfectly well suited to its second run status.