History
Part of the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, The Majestic Picture house opened April 22 1920. It originally seated 1,233. Georgian style interior with Oak panelled foyers with tapestry’s on the walls and faced in white faience tiles the cinema was very successful.
In 1927 Provincial Cinematograph Theatres became associated with Gaumont British Theatres. The cinema was then renovated in 1936, with alterations to the seating, foyer and auditorium with a new Compton Organ being installed also. It was then renamed the Gaumont in 1946.
Gaumont was merged into the Rank organisation and the cinema was renamed again to the Odeon on 11th November 1962.
In 1981 it was sold to an independent operator who renamed it the Metro Cinema.
With the cinemas seating capacity, gradually being reduced over the years it still operated as a single screen cinema up until the middle of 2003.
Since then the cinema has remained unused apart from the long foyer area which became Slotworld. An amusement arcade which eventually closed around 2011.
The cinema was also used in the film East is East.
Explore
Been after this one for a while. It’s always looked pretty secure, things get sealed on it quickly and it’s in a pretty bait spot, surrounded by banks and in a town centre.
Anyway, visited with @GK_WAX and @Ferret we’d been out had a pint managed to tick off another location we had been after for ages too so we were pretty confident. A quick nosey around and we spot a little nick in it’s armour. A bit of a fuck about and we’re in.
Wounded.
Stripped and trashed and looking very very sorry for itself. Still though we managed to get the lights on, and there was a few bit’s of old cinema relics kicking about. There was some very questionable furniture where the rows of seats once were however. Which was annoying. Didn’t get chance to see what the slotworld part was like too much. As we expected it was belled.
See ya.
Pics
I’ll start off with some old ones from the archives
As the Gaumont
As the Odeon
As the Metro
Projectors in 1949
and in 1985
Auditorium in 1949
80's
Snack bar around the 60’s
Some pictures of it in East is East
Auditorium and screen now. You can see to the left of the screen the lamps laid down in one of the previous pictures, which would have stood either side of the screen.
One of the dressing rooms. They were all the same as this just with varying levels of mould.
Projection Room
A couple of 1930’s Brenkert light projectors. Apparently these could project everything apart from the actual moving picture. They were used to project clouds and planes moving through them etc. Top bit of kit for it’s day.
Circle bar
From what I can find out this room was the café with the original fireplace to the right. It was used for storage for many years and looks quite smoke damaged. Some lovely stained glass though.
A quick rooftop shot before going down to the foyer where we then had to do one.
Part of the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres, The Majestic Picture house opened April 22 1920. It originally seated 1,233. Georgian style interior with Oak panelled foyers with tapestry’s on the walls and faced in white faience tiles the cinema was very successful.
In 1927 Provincial Cinematograph Theatres became associated with Gaumont British Theatres. The cinema was then renovated in 1936, with alterations to the seating, foyer and auditorium with a new Compton Organ being installed also. It was then renamed the Gaumont in 1946.
Gaumont was merged into the Rank organisation and the cinema was renamed again to the Odeon on 11th November 1962.
In 1981 it was sold to an independent operator who renamed it the Metro Cinema.
With the cinemas seating capacity, gradually being reduced over the years it still operated as a single screen cinema up until the middle of 2003.
Since then the cinema has remained unused apart from the long foyer area which became Slotworld. An amusement arcade which eventually closed around 2011.
The cinema was also used in the film East is East.
Explore
Been after this one for a while. It’s always looked pretty secure, things get sealed on it quickly and it’s in a pretty bait spot, surrounded by banks and in a town centre.
Anyway, visited with @GK_WAX and @Ferret we’d been out had a pint managed to tick off another location we had been after for ages too so we were pretty confident. A quick nosey around and we spot a little nick in it’s armour. A bit of a fuck about and we’re in.
Wounded.
Stripped and trashed and looking very very sorry for itself. Still though we managed to get the lights on, and there was a few bit’s of old cinema relics kicking about. There was some very questionable furniture where the rows of seats once were however. Which was annoying. Didn’t get chance to see what the slotworld part was like too much. As we expected it was belled.
See ya.
Pics
I’ll start off with some old ones from the archives
As the Gaumont
As the Odeon
As the Metro
Projectors in 1949
and in 1985
Auditorium in 1949
80's
Snack bar around the 60’s
Some pictures of it in East is East
Auditorium and screen now. You can see to the left of the screen the lamps laid down in one of the previous pictures, which would have stood either side of the screen.
One of the dressing rooms. They were all the same as this just with varying levels of mould.
Projection Room
A couple of 1930’s Brenkert light projectors. Apparently these could project everything apart from the actual moving picture. They were used to project clouds and planes moving through them etc. Top bit of kit for it’s day.
Circle bar
From what I can find out this room was the café with the original fireplace to the right. It was used for storage for many years and looks quite smoke damaged. Some lovely stained glass though.
A quick rooftop shot before going down to the foyer where we then had to do one.
