We explore The Abandoned Odeon Cinema In North End Portsmouth!!
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- A lot of people forget this once very popular Cinema is still here, it’s been closed for 11 years and sadly is due to be demolished in the near future to be replaced with houses... because of its location we had to do this one extremely early in the morning! A great explore with a lot of happy memories from my childhood. Will be very sad to see it go!
Site history....
One of the original Oscar Deutsch chain of Odeon Theatres. The Portsmouth Odeon opened on 14th December 1936 with Sydney Howard in “Chick”. It was the largest and most expensive Andrew Mather designed Odeon of that year. Total seating was provided for 1,824, with 1,224 in stalls and 600 in balcony.
It has an impressive monolithic tower frontage in cream faience with vertical green bands and a roof of red Spanish tiles. The auditorium’s ornate decoration included tall murals on side walls depicting film subjects.
A two week closure from 10th September 1960 for modernisation, including installation of 70mm with new wide screen and proscenium in front of original. Then began a glorious period through the 1960’s of almost uninterrupted Roadshow presentations (with the Gaumont almost opposite taking the Rank first-run weekly release).
Tripling took place on 26th August 1973, with 573 seats in screen 1 (former balcony) and 132 in each of the mini-screens located in the rear stalls under the balcony. In 1990 a fourth screen was added in the former front stalls area and a new screen was installed in screen 1. Further refurbishment has taken place since then and the current seating is 1. 631, 2. 229, 3. 179, 4. 259.
In 2007 the Freehold on the building was sold by Odeon Theatres Ltd. and after a few false roumors of closure, the final performances were held on 10th January 2008. Demolition is possibly the final act, still to be played out…..but, in December 2008, the foyer was in use as a OJ’s Discount Store and by August 2013 was in use as a Sainsbury’s supermarket. The auditoriums remain unusued.
![ARGENTINA vs. CHILE [3-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 7](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/De3AWmXzhuA/mqdefault.jpg)
When I came to Portsmouth in 1973 there were the three screens. We lived just round the corner from this cinema at the time so it was within easy walking distance and it was our cinema of choice during the late 1970's and early 1980's until we moved away from the area in 1984. It's always so sad to see these beautiful Art Deco buildings fall into disuse and disrepair.
If I won the lottery I'd refurbished it back to original state of one screen with balcony etc. Those were the days...
That's exactly what I would do, nice one:)
That's amazing that sainsbury's can trade food, with a rotting flooded building attached!
Good tour, well done 😃👍
I was thinking the same, why is there so much water? is that part of the building below ground level or drains leaking?
@@NOWThatsRichy I heard is from previous people intentionally turning on the water and leave the building letting it flood ruining it for other people wanting to explore
@@bluethefoxyt there was leakage and they couldn't stop it, nor replace it. They had no choice to abandon the cinema
@@WolfAirsoftYT yes but still I'm still shocked sainsbury's could trade
@@bluethefoxyt At the storage department of the shop, there is a huge wall blocking off the cinema entrance i believe. Or it's at the ally way on the left side of the shop
Watched The Spy Who Loved Me in there as a friends birthday treat in 1977.
Many more after too.
They had a mosaic floor in the lobby and at one time, glass and timber ticket boots where the paper tickets popped out of a metal plate in front of the person in the booth.
Great part of my past... I’m 50 on Tuesday but seeing this makes me not feel quite so old and sad!! So thanks for posting!
Fascinating stuff! You are definately one of YTs better urban explorers.
The stars of this vid are the pidgeons! Brilliant!
...And well done to your sister for standing her ground!! :D
It is quite disturbing to see a place I've visited on many occasions in happier times in such a dystopian state. I remember using those very popcorn machines, they were positioned towards the back of the lobby I believe, near the staircase to the theatre of dreams that was the art deco splendour of screen 1, which I always hoped would be the screen upon which the movie I intended to view would be shewn. Alas, my final few visits in the early days of hyper-technology, 2007, were to the lesser screens. My final visit was to watch the second of the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Hot Fuzz.
It is amazing that despite the heavy decay, these screens are still recognisably the same as they appear in my memories. I can still sense the excitement flowing through the very small group of attendees as the room darkened and the multisensory wonder of a star-shaped branding iron being thrust against the screen in fiery fashion. Meanwhile I had also been a frequent visitor to the ultra-modern multiplex, Vue (originally Warner Village Cinema). Whilst Da Vue was a more pleasing establishment with a smart and comfortable ambience, the facility lacked the charm of the olde-worlde Odeon of North End. So I continued visiting/supporting the Andrew Mather masterpiece until near the point its sad demise.
The Odeon North End Portsmouth. I worked here when it open for business then and it was indeed a grand place to be . It's sad to see videos like this one . It breaks my heart to see it rotting away knowing how it once was inside and out. Odeon closed cinemas like this one in favour of newer multiplexes which are bland and boring to be in. I had happy times here helping to show the public films in a great setting and give them an experience of cinema entertainment. Nothing can or will replace the old Odeon at Portsmouth hence why I left there and found work in a real old picture house which does give what the public deserves and myself the respect to work there.!
Great video and footage very well done indeed thanks for sharing cheers 👍👍🇬🇧
One of my first memories was seeing the movie Madeline here. And the last one I remember seeing was Valiant, which was aptly about Pigeons.
The pigeons have definitely taken over. Bit sad really, used to go & see James Bond & other movies here in the late sixties & seventies. Memories of a misspent youth. Used to enjoy looking around the cinema at the gold painted decorative plaster mouldings.
You would have thought Sainsburys would have wanted to have the whole building dry as they are using part of it. I wonder if Sainsburys own the whole building? Or if they know its flooded? They might be wondering why a wall keeps going mouldy. Thankyou for sharing your visit.
Fascinating just left like that
That was funny with the pigeons bro , love the video's 👍
Hi Colin, we couldn’t believe our eyes at 67 years of age when you showed us a baby pigeon 🤗 we only recently said that you never see them , thank you we love all your explores, we love that your so caring passionate and respectful. 🤗
Hi David Barber local resident. I made a scale model of the Odeon North End as it was originally with lights, I sent it to The Footage Detectives on TPTV. You can see it on episode 96 go to the encore page, you will have to log in temp with your e mail and a pass word. It is a tragedy the Odeon closed, it should have been saved and fully restored to as it was and looked in 1936. We need a cinema in the North End area
So sad. Used to come down to pompey on holiday and see latest films here. Many happy memories. Moonraker, empire strikes back, Indiana Jones.
The theatre was completely sealed off from the Sainsbury's
store. To deter break ins the cinema was also resealed from top to bottom.
After closing it had been broken into many times, there are some photos on the
internet from previous break ins. Originally the water is not from a broken
sewer but water fire hoses connected to the mains. They were never disconnected
by the last owners when the cinema closed. On one of the early break ins a
group of people vandalised the property including turning on all the hoses and
activating the extinguishers. The place flooded. At the time it was clear water
but it was never cleared up. There were no pigeons either, you could walk
around the whole cinema building without to much of a problem. From the very
top to the basement.
Prob flooded people nicking the copper very common
December 29th, 1977. The first film I ever saw at the cinema. Star Wars. Odeon North End. I remember the kiosk when the paper tickets were punched up through the shiny metal plate. The art deco fittings looked great. I will never forget sitting at the top row in Screen 1 and being blown away by the big screen and sound. Hooked on films forever after that. What a crying shame. If I were a millionaire, I would refurbish the whole place. Original fittings and decor, and period machines and kiosk. Only 2 screens, though. I wonder if anyone would come to such a cinema. These modern multiplexes have zero appeal and character. I remember the usherettes showing me to my seat with a torch, and the kiosk even at the foot of the screen when there were intermissions, so that we could get an ice cream or popcorn. I miss those days. I feel sorry for kids today. Nowhere to go, nothing to do, eyes fixed on their phones or playing computer games.
Hauntingly beautiful. Thanks for sharing
Used to live round the corner on Cardiff road when I was 3-13, really sad to see where I used to go with my family all the time like this. I remember simply walking round the corner and just being there at the cinema. I loved it.
I remember going to this cinema a few times, many years ago now as a teenager. Screen 1 always reminded me of a theatre. Keep up the good work, especially the cars👌🏻
Quite funny watching every one duck and dive to keep away from all the pigeons. Luv the videos and keep them coming.
So many pigeons 😂. At least they've found themselves a nice home lol
Yes, and an absolutely raw health hazard! They need to immediately wash or throw out all the clothing they were wearing after. Pigeon poo is extremely toxic! This place is a joke - especially as it's attached to a FOOD premises... Wow. Just wow 😑
I remember turning up a bit late for a Die Hard film and having to sit at the front row of screen 1, it was a bit much being so close to the screen, at least I could balance my sneaked in beer on the stage ledge! At the end I think we used to sometimes exit by one of the staircases down the side into the car park or an alley, can't quite remember. Used to go here because it was cheap once Port Solent and Gunwharf opened. This was my favourite of the old Pompey cinemas over the ABC and Classic.
Awesome find, fantastic to see, thank you
watched children of men here in 2006, imazing to see it like this !
Historic nostalgia great watching for old staff & patrons.
Never laughed so hard from Pigeons! Quite an explore with so much company watching you 😆!
Great vid From what i can see of the main screen area of screen one what you would of seen behind the 1973 screen that was put in during the tripling is the remains of the first bit of modernization of the main screen in 1960 and Proscenium
of said screen there is apparently even bits of the original proscenium from 1936 behind that When the conversions were done they would of split the main auditorium and moved forward the screen upstairs to make it bigger in length This building is huge and seated 1,824 people one time It was the largest and most expensive Andrew Mather designed Odeon of that year of 1936 Shame the stage area original stalls is flooded as their is loads of rooms behind the original stage Some places totally been totally closed off to public for years
I explored the state theater here in South Bend Indiana mainly because I had to fix some stuff connected with the shops heating down , below there was a projection machine and Movie real apparently the reels actually sit sideways they were like 3 feet in diameter . Thinking back I wish I would’ve grabbed a piece of the celluloid movie now.
Nice exploration m8y 😎
I’m glad you had your masks on 🙂🍻👍
i watched movies there - in the late 70s early 80s
Nice explore, amazing that that place still stands with all that water inside.
Great video. Brings back so many memories watching movies in that cinema
I watched so many movies there in my childhood.. So sad :( - Happy days though..
Great work
👇👇👇
The pigeons!!! OMG!!!
Amazing filming work
How in the hell is that Sainsbury's allowed to trade when the back arse of the building is sinking into what i presume is a broken sewer system?? How is there not a rat infestation?? If i lived locally i would be saying something... This is mind blowing! Also, seriously take care, these places are literally death traps waiting to be sprung! Power to you guys still.
There's a good reason it closed down lmao
The theatre was completely sealed off from the Sainsburys store. To deter break ins the cinema was also resealed from top to bottom. After closing it had been broken into many times, there are some photos on the internet from previous break ins. Originally the water is not from a broken sewer but water fire hoses connected to the mains. They were never disconected by the last owners when the cinema closed. On one of the early break ins a group of people vandalised the property including turning on all the hoses and activating the extinguishers. The place flooded. At the time it was clear water but it was never cleared up. There were no pigeons either, you could walk around the whole cinema building whithout to much of a problem. From the very top to the basement.
When it closed, the entrance and lobby was sectioned off and used as a Blockbuster video store.
Should do the crown bingo down Northend too?
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAW NICE SPOT EN OLD NICE OLD MOVIE HURBIE 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍GREETINGS FROM BILL OUT ROTTERDAM HOLLAND 👍👍👍👍👍
Worked there in the late 90's and kinda eerie seeing it in that state now , and knowing what the place is made of and where that water comes from i wouldnt want to be in there now
0:10 This Odeon The First Choice Logo Is Taken From The 1990 Walt Disney Pictures And Touchstone Pictures Children's Live Action Fantasy Action Adventure Family Comedy Blockbuster Movie. Dick Tracy The Movie Before Disney's The Little Mermaid In 1989. Awesome. Thanks Mate. X❤💜💗💕💖💓💖🤠😂😎👮👮♀️🧑⚕️🧑🚀👨🚀👩🚀🧑🏭👩🎤👨🎤🧑🎤🧜🧜♂️🧜♀️🏄♀️🏄♂️🇯🇵🇦🇺🇮🇪🇫🇷🇿🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧
i thought the pigeon lady from home alone was going to pop out at the 24min mark. so many memories from this cinema crazy how it is now
i live in portsmouth and i saw a yellow sticker with your name on it by the roundabout
8 mile came out in 2002 btw
Of course with cinema's the size of the screen is fantastic usually the sound effects too.
So strange and sad to see the Odeon like this. I remember watching movies in screen 1 in the 70s, never did see a film in the two smaller screens for some reason. I'm surprised that she has not been pulled down by now. It must be a prime building site.
Really good explore. Serious damp problem in the place. Pigeons weren't that into you much. 👍
WOW, how very interesting but also super sad, and what a vile life pigeons lead!
I've been there with my big sis and our cousin I think we went to c Harry potter and the another films, back in 1990s or early 00s. Back in 1950s they used to have a kids club on Saturday mornings.
I used to work at this Odeon. What a waste now though. Screen 4 was a lot lower level than Screen 3 (where you started). So, Screen 4 would have a lot of water, eg. about waist height at the back and even deeper towards the screen. Screen 1 was big and worked well versus number of customers. Screen 1 exit stairs at the end - lead out to the fire exit. What a shame Odeon couldn’t find a way to keep this profitable.
Not surprised there are pigeons there but wondering what they are eating to survive? They didn’t like you though 😂 I don’t live too far from there and seeing it in that state is really freaky what with all the water and possible asbestos. The whole place just looks really creepy. I certainly wouldn’t want to go inside!
They have their own enters and exits, they go outside but in there is a place for shelter and a nesting ground. They do go outside for food otherwise they'd be dead
Wow, I could use some of that film for a lamp shade. I am turning an old projector into a table lamp and was wanting to make the shade out of movie film.
Survivor of the attack of the dreaded pidgeon well done lol
Cool explore subscribed 👌
You are so brave please be careful, but thanks for feeding our curiousity most enjoyable
The Film/Movie Alfred Hitchcock's - The Birds - comes to mind. 😃👍
I saw many a film at this place back in the days 👋💀👍
Water damage is common. Itd deliberate to help with the disrepair of the place so owners can have it pulled down due to being deemed unsafe. Water with make place crumble quicker.
Hi I love watching ur vidios plz I like in Portsmouth can u try and do a vidio on the crown bingo in Northend plz?
I think the last time I went to that Odeon was The Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.
Lived in Portsmouth till 2009. Had no idea why it closed, guess I know now
You came prepared wearing wellingtons!
Why did they abandon the theatre ? Why didn't they fix it up ?
There's absolutely nothing for families to do together anymore ! They need to stop closing stuff down and tearing them down !!
The simple reason money and this type of building is expensive to maintain.
Sure glad I subscribed...👍
I’ve got say this that the pigeons are in the cinema watching the latest chase the bread movie 🎥 lol
PIGION CENTRAL ON THOSE STAIRS .WHOLEY COW
If you go down the stairs you used to get to the big screen, does that take me to the lower screens?
The fact i fell through this 🤦♂️🤦♂️
Im wondering about all those copies of Disney’s Hercules. did you guys take one home by chance? They almost look like bootlegs.
The Sainsbury’s closed now any chance tho the way u got in is open? Cause be and a friend of mine went to explore it and the back gate is open and there’s construction have no idea what they were doing and we had to bolt it due to getting caught
Please help the bird😊
Can somebody tell me how to get in??? Been meaning to find out for a while
There is a underground river (Or was) that ran from Cosham down to the harbour from memory and i think it followed the roads or the roads followed it
john herrity that sounds very interesting!.. I wonder if it’s still there?
Lots below our feet there's probably another couple floors down there...but all over England below our feet i belive another world down there
Just a couple of miles away from me, its alot bigger inside than it looks from the front, considering Sainsburys are running a food business in the front, how has the rest of the building got so bad? Do they own it or just leasing the front bit?
Brilliant vid though.
I think.they own the front bit but if the mold can grow inside then that sainsbury's will most likely close aswell due to it being a major health hazard
Well my childhood has been shat on... I mean.. there's pigeon shit everywhere...
How do you get to the bottom? Is there a way without going in the water?
A 13 year old boy fell right through this yesterday it does look proper dangerous
Just try to be a little bit more careful. 🙂
The last movie shown there must have been 'The birds'.
I wonder why the pigeons like that place--it seems really unwholesome even for birds. Why is there so much water? Was the building below the surrounding land elevation?
Slayerjane61 toilet tank leakage, they even had heaters down stairs to dry the water out while it started to happen. Clearly it didn't work and that water will go from shop to shop (because of erosion) until all of it is water and rotten
Good...
Hai,im to malaysia..
I went there today with my freinds it in north end isn’t it but I thought the water was carpet it was so still it was like carpet I stepped in and we’ll you know the rest
I'd reopen that place and sell pigeon pie instead of popcorn and hot dogs !
Sadly now no longer there.
Coo - eeee
How did u get in
Great video but be safe buddy
Suppose electric shocks could be a possibility.
Did Hitchcock direct this video?
I have never seen a baby pigeon
How can you have part of a building occupied by a supermarket, and another part further back is literally filled with dirty flood water
First floor is all flooded now only explore 2 floor
Nice !! I really need to get it before they seal it up again
KhurbanX better be quick! 🙈😁
@@TheBeardedExplorer I know 😥 got loads planned for that area
I cant believe you walked in that shit
They need to tare down the movie theater
PIGEION NIGHTMARE
I live in an area infested with pigeons. Awful vermin things. I'm not too far from North End so I may have to check this out, if it's still there.
Defiance76 I love pigeons, I see them as so beautiful creatures. I call them Rock Doves which is their real name
@@scarlotty0778 Unfortunately I live with them on my property daily. Noise, excrement, feathers.. It drives me crazy. :(
Defiance76 fair enough, I mean I can't say much as none are around where I live, I don't know what it's like. Sorry they bother you
@@scarlotty0778 no need to be sorry. It's not your fault 😁
Btw, there was a fire in 2018 because a guy went there and lit it up on purpose
Glad you wore the mask. I think you may otherwise have started Covid21
1:50 looks like a person hanging over the screen
is it still there.
It's just one big birds nest