HISTORY-Located in Todmorden, near Halifax, Yorkshire. The New Olympia Cinema was a replacement for an earlier Olympia Cinema which had opened as a roller skating rink in 1909, and closed in May 1931. The New Olympia Cinema was opened on 25th August 1932 and was designed by Burnley based architectural firm Aspen & Johnson. A good central location opposite the bus station gave the cinema the edge over the others in town and as it had the largest seating capacity and a full stage, the New Olympia immediately became the ‘best’ venue in the town.
It was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in 1955. It lasted longer than its rivals (the still open Hippodrome Theatre q.v. and the Gem Cinema now demolished) but finally closed as a cinema in 1966, and became a Star Bingo Club. When that closed the interior was stripped and the building converted into a supermarket which survived until around 2007. In early-2014, there were plans to demolish the building to build an ASDA supermarket on the site and adjacent land. The façade will be retained.
THE EXPLORE- while checking out DR HAROLD SHIPMANS medical centre next door , we noticed this gem , this was far more interesting to us , it is also to be demolished very soon !... warning ! there is a lot of pigeon shit in parts .
this was the first cinema i had ever explored and i bloody luvved it , visited with fellow 28dl members @Cazel#HT ,@Daniel Birkett ,@Rachel Brade and other non member urbexers.
THE PICS - as always i was using my canon 10-18mm wide angled lens , not the best lens for crisp details , but the best for getting everything in one frame .....enjoy the pics folks !
It was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain in 1955. It lasted longer than its rivals (the still open Hippodrome Theatre q.v. and the Gem Cinema now demolished) but finally closed as a cinema in 1966, and became a Star Bingo Club. When that closed the interior was stripped and the building converted into a supermarket which survived until around 2007. In early-2014, there were plans to demolish the building to build an ASDA supermarket on the site and adjacent land. The façade will be retained.
THE EXPLORE- while checking out DR HAROLD SHIPMANS medical centre next door , we noticed this gem , this was far more interesting to us , it is also to be demolished very soon !... warning ! there is a lot of pigeon shit in parts .
this was the first cinema i had ever explored and i bloody luvved it , visited with fellow 28dl members @Cazel#HT ,@Daniel Birkett ,@Rachel Brade and other non member urbexers.
THE PICS - as always i was using my canon 10-18mm wide angled lens , not the best lens for crisp details , but the best for getting everything in one frame .....enjoy the pics folks !
