Odeon Marble Arch (1928-1964)

Odeon Marble Arch was a prominent cinema on the north-western edge of central London, opposite Marble Arch at the top of Park Lane, with its principal entrance on Edgware Road. The venue opened on 29 November 1928 under the name Regal, presenting Al Jolson in The Singing Fool. Its imposing Portland-stone facade, approximately 100 feet high, made it a conspicuous addition to the West End and gave the cinema a landmark presence near Hyde Park and Marble Arch. The original auditorium followed the large single-screen pattern common to major interwar picture palaces. It combined stalls and a circle with an atmospheric interior influenced by American theatre design. Romanesque motifs, faux architectural decoration and elaborate lighting created a theatrical environment intended to make filmgoing an event rather than a purely functional screening. A major attraction was the Christie theatre organ, described as the largest theatre organ built outside the United States. It had 2,514 pipes, a 32-note carillon and numerous sound effects that could accompany films and stage presentations. Within six months of its opening, the Regal was taken over by ABC Cinemas. ABC operated the venue until early January 1945, when it passed to Odeon Cinemas. The building was refurbished for its new operator, but its planned reopening was interrupted by damage from one of the final V-1 flying bombs to strike London. The cinema eventually reopened in September 1945 as Odeon Marble Arch and operated as a first-run cinema. By the early 1960s, the original building had lost much of its former distinction. Its interior was increasingly worn, while the booking pattern had weakened from major attractions to less prominent circuit releases and dubbed foreign-language films that did not fill the large auditorium. The original cinema closed on 22 March 1964, showing The Long Ships as its final programme. It was subsequently demolished and replaced as part of a redevelopment designed by T. P. Bennett and Son. A new Odeon cinema was built above Marble Arch Underground station, using structural measures to reduce vibration from passing trains. That successor opened in 1967 and formed a separate later phase in the history of the site. Accordingly, the 1928-1964 entity is best understood as the original Regal/Odeon Marble Arch picture palace rather than the later 1967 single-screen cinema or the five-screen multiplex that operated from 1997. Its historical significance rests on its scale, atmospheric design, unusually elaborate organ installation and role as a high-profile West End exhibition venue during the transition from silent-era and early sound cinema to postwar commercial film exhibition.

The original cinema opened as the Regal on 29 November 1928 at Marble Arch, London. Its site stood opposite the landmark arch at the northern end of Park Lane, while the public entrance was on Edgware Road. The building's Portland-stone facade rose roughly 100 feet and gave the venue a monumental profile appropriate to a major West End picture palace. Its opening programme was Al Jolson's The Singing Fool, a high-profile attraction during the expansion of large urban cinemas in the late 1920s. The auditorium was arranged with stalls and a circle and used an atmospheric design language derived partly from American cinema theatres. Romanesque detailing and simulated architectural decoration were combined with theatrical lighting to create a sense of spectacle. The cinema was also equipped with an exceptional Christie organ. With 2,514 pipes, a 32-note carillon and a range of film-accompaniment effects, it was presented as the largest theatre organ built outside the United States. This installation reflected the continuing importance of live musical and theatrical enhancement even as synchronized sound films were becoming dominant. The Regal entered ABC Cinemas' circuit within six months of opening. ABC remained its operator until early January 1945. The venue then passed to Odeon Cinemas, which undertook refurbishment. Before the planned reopening, however, the building was struck by one of the last V-1 flying bombs to hit London. The resulting delay kept the cinema closed until September 1945, when it reopened under the name Odeon Marble Arch. It subsequently operated as a first-run house during the postwar period. The original cinema's fortunes weakened by the early 1960s. Its decorative interior had become faded and insufficiently maintained, while its programming had declined from the strongest circuit attractions to minor releases and dubbed foreign films. A very large auditorium was increasingly difficult to fill. Odeon Marble Arch closed on 22 March 1964 with The Long Ships. The building was demolished, and the site was redeveloped with an office block and a technologically modern cinema designed by T. P. Bennett and Son. That replacement, constructed above Marble Arch Underground station with elaborate vibration-control measures, opened in 1967 and belongs to a later phase of the venue's history. The 1928-1964 period therefore covers two names and two operating eras: the Regal years under ABC Cinemas and the postwar Odeon years. It is distinct from the 1967-1996 single-screen cinema, which became known for large 70mm presentations, and from the five-screen multiplex created in 1997. The original venue remains historically notable for its architecture, its exceptional theatre organ and its place in the development of large-scale West End film exhibition.

• 1964

  Original building closes

  [1]Odeon Marble Archen.wikipedia.org

  The original cinema closed on 22 March and was subsequently demolished for redevelopment.

• 1945

  Odeon takeover and postwar reopening

  [1]Odeon Marble Archen.wikipedia.org

  Odeon assumed operation early in the year; V-1 damage delayed reopening until September, when it returned as Odeon Marble Arch.

• 1929

  ABC Cinemas takes control

  [1]Odeon Marble Archen.wikipedia.org

  The venue was taken over by ABC Cinemas within six months of opening.

• 1928

  Regal opens at Marble Arch

  [1]Odeon Marble Archen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema opened on 29 November with The Singing Fool, establishing a large picture palace opposite Marble Arch.

A landmark, high-capacity West End picture palace positioned as an upscale destination for major film releases and theatrical cinema-going.

• Cinema exhibition · 1928

  Regal/Odeon first-run cinema

  The venue's principal offering was commercial exhibition of current films in a large West End auditorium. Its scale, prominent location and formal interior positioned ordinary film programmes as theatrical occasions, particularly during the cinema's opening and postwar first-run periods.

• Theatrical accompaniment · 1928

  Christie theatre organ

  The original cinema featured a Christie organ with 2,514 pipes, a 32-note carillon and numerous special effects. It was an unusually ambitious installation for a British cinema and supported musical accompaniment and atmospheric enhancement of film presentations.

• 1964

  Replacement of the original picture palaceStrategy

  Background

  The original auditorium had become faded and was receiving less prestigious programming that did not make full use of its capacity.

  Action taken

  The cinema was closed and demolished so the site could be redeveloped with offices and a modern cinema designed by T. P. Bennett and Son.

  Aftermath

  A new Odeon Marble Arch opened above Marble Arch Underground station in 1967, beginning a distinct later phase.

  Source

• 1945

  Transfer from ABC Cinemas to Odeon CinemasM&A

  Background

  ABC Cinemas had operated the Regal since shortly after its opening. In early 1945, operation passed to Odeon Cinemas during the cinema's wartime and postwar transition.

  Action taken

  Odeon refurbished the venue and relaunched it under the Odeon Marble Arch name after repairs to wartime damage.

  Aftermath

  The cinema reopened in September 1945 as an Odeon first-run house.

  Source

1. 1Odeon Marble Archen.wikipedia.org