ethanedwards
Brummie Muso
Birmingham Odeon
New Street
Edit. Replacement image, 1950s photo from Cinema treasures site. May vary from original image.
Second photo from the 1980s (Birmingham Mail image)
A once beautiful cinema, now divided into eight screens.
The Paramount Theatre opened on 4th September 1937
with Errol Flynn in "Charge of the Light Brigade".
The original seating capacity was for 2,439
with 1,517 in the stalls and 922 in the circle.
It was equipped with a Compton 4Manual/10Rank theatre organ
which was opened by Al Bollington.
The Paramount had a large stage, dressing rooms
and a cafe/restaurant.
In August 1942, it was sold to Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres Ltd.
and it was re-named Odeon.
In 1965 it was closed for a period while major modernisation
was carried out.
The Odeon was used for many live shows during this period of time,
including appearances by The Beatles.
In May 1988 the Odeon was closed for conversion
into a six screen cinema, which re-opened in August 1988.
Unfortunately, the Compton organ,
which had still been used for concerts, was dismantled and sold.
In 1991 two additional screens were opened
in the former restaurant area and a former bar in the basement.
The cinema used to have a very ornate auditorium
until it was altered.
Now it is all very plain, including the foyer entrance.
The last refurbishment was carried out in 1998.
As previously metioned,
The Odeon was used for many live shows during this period of time,
including appearances by The Beatles.
Indeed, for many years it was the venue,
for the then many 'Package Shows',
which consisted of one main star attraction,
and several support acts.
Sometimes the package consisted of many act,
that were all charting at the time.
The star names are many and too numerous to name here,
but I have personally seen many shows,
including,
Bob Dylan, who complained loudly over the Mic,
that the stage floor was dirty,and required cleaning!
Also, Duane Eddy, The Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent,
Mickie Most, The Shirelles, Mike Bloomfield,
Darry Hall and John Oakes and many more.
Here's my ticket from the The Everly Brothers
concert
I even bumped into Eric Burdon of The Animals.
He was outside the front, and we had a lovely converstaion
about his brand new Ford Mustang,
that was parked in New Street.
New Street
Edit. Replacement image, 1950s photo from Cinema treasures site. May vary from original image.
Second photo from the 1980s (Birmingham Mail image)
A once beautiful cinema, now divided into eight screens.
The Paramount Theatre opened on 4th September 1937
with Errol Flynn in "Charge of the Light Brigade".
The original seating capacity was for 2,439
with 1,517 in the stalls and 922 in the circle.
It was equipped with a Compton 4Manual/10Rank theatre organ
which was opened by Al Bollington.
The Paramount had a large stage, dressing rooms
and a cafe/restaurant.
In August 1942, it was sold to Oscar Deutsch's Odeon Theatres Ltd.
and it was re-named Odeon.
In 1965 it was closed for a period while major modernisation
was carried out.
The Odeon was used for many live shows during this period of time,
including appearances by The Beatles.
In May 1988 the Odeon was closed for conversion
into a six screen cinema, which re-opened in August 1988.
Unfortunately, the Compton organ,
which had still been used for concerts, was dismantled and sold.
In 1991 two additional screens were opened
in the former restaurant area and a former bar in the basement.
The cinema used to have a very ornate auditorium
until it was altered.
Now it is all very plain, including the foyer entrance.
The last refurbishment was carried out in 1998.
As previously metioned,
The Odeon was used for many live shows during this period of time,
including appearances by The Beatles.
Indeed, for many years it was the venue,
for the then many 'Package Shows',
which consisted of one main star attraction,
and several support acts.
Sometimes the package consisted of many act,
that were all charting at the time.
The star names are many and too numerous to name here,
but I have personally seen many shows,
including,
Bob Dylan, who complained loudly over the Mic,
that the stage floor was dirty,and required cleaning!
Also, Duane Eddy, The Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent,
Mickie Most, The Shirelles, Mike Bloomfield,
Darry Hall and John Oakes and many more.
Here's my ticket from the The Everly Brothers
concert
I even bumped into Eric Burdon of The Animals.
He was outside the front, and we had a lovely converstaion
about his brand new Ford Mustang,
that was parked in New Street.
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