This was one of those things I had on the list for ages, which looked sealed up on a walk-past - but Speed's report a couple of months ago made me go give it a proper try, and it was well worth it.
Originally built for Gaumont in 1930, the New Victoria originally seated 2,058 - it was renamed the Odeon in 1964, the stage was deepened for live shows in the 1970s (including the Clash). The cinema was subdivided in 1982 and again in 1989, so by the time of it's closure in 2003 there were five screens.
This all seemed very familiar - I'm sure I went to see some films here when we lived in Edinburgh in the late '90s. Anyway, pictures:
A couple of the smaller screens:
A projection booth:
The foyer:
The curving stalls lounge is stunning:
The largest screen, with starry sky lighting and niches for statues - most had been roughly removed:
The redevelopment left a couple of statues marooned behind the new screen:
Up the stairs:
The top projection booth:
Function room:
Basement:
And there were some lovely Peerless projectors tucked away backstage:
Originally built for Gaumont in 1930, the New Victoria originally seated 2,058 - it was renamed the Odeon in 1964, the stage was deepened for live shows in the 1970s (including the Clash). The cinema was subdivided in 1982 and again in 1989, so by the time of it's closure in 2003 there were five screens.
This all seemed very familiar - I'm sure I went to see some films here when we lived in Edinburgh in the late '90s. Anyway, pictures:
A couple of the smaller screens:
A projection booth:
The foyer:
The curving stalls lounge is stunning:
The largest screen, with starry sky lighting and niches for statues - most had been roughly removed:
The redevelopment left a couple of statues marooned behind the new screen:
Up the stairs:
The top projection booth:
Function room:
Basement:
And there were some lovely Peerless projectors tucked away backstage: