Odeon Marble Arch
Encyclopedia
The Odeon Marble Arch is a cinema
located opposite Marble Arch
monument at the top of Park Lane
, with its main entrance on Edgware Road, London
. It is most famous for once housing a vast screen capable of screening films in 70mm.
, opening in 1928. A 100 feet (30.5 m) high facade was constructed in Portland Stone
. The auditorium was a riot of romanesque motifs and faux-decor, owing much to the atmospheric style of the USA. Structured in traditional circle and stalls, the cinema was a notable addition to the West End
.
The cinema was renamed Odeon
in 1945 and continued as a first-run house. However by the early 1960s its interior was decidedly faded and neglected. Film-runs had by this point declined to minor circuit pictures or even dubbed foreign films: insufficient to fill its large house.
The response to this situation was to demolish the cinema and rebuild an ultra modern cinema capable of playing the new widescreen formats in more contemporary surrounds, thus the Odeon was demolished in 1964 to make way for a modern replacement.
The cinema was constructed to showcase films in the various 70mm processes, as well as conventional 35mm films, allowing for considerable spectable. Presentations included: Far from the Madding Crowd
, A Bridge Too Far, Aliens
, Die Hard
, Return of the Jedi, Lawrence of Arabia
.
Seating was 1360 in total, split between a spaciously raked circle (front and rear) and stalls (stepped towards the rear). Sight-lines were excellent throughout.
The auditorium was a cavernous space, with textured panelling on both side walls, partially concealing curtained backing. Variable lighting was installed in the outer rim of the ceiling to play different coloured schemes over the walls during intermissions. A single set of tabs (curtains) revealed the immense screen.
Foyer areas were reached via escalator from a ground floor box office.
A somewhat flatter screen was installed following the revival of Lawrence of Arabia
to allow for a less distorted view of the desert skylines.
Digital sound was installed in the 1990s, including ceiling speakers.
A special screening in 1997 of Richard Attenborough
's Gandhi
in 70mm and six-track magnetic sound marked the end of the Odeon as a single-screen cinema.
The 1997 closure and conversion had been mooted for several years, and public outcry at losing such a spectacular venue - most notably in the pages of the London weekly listings magazine "Time Out", in which Hellboy
screenwriter Peter Briggs
played a vocal role - delayed the process on at least one occasion.
In March 2011 Odeon Marble Arch had its 35mm projectors and CP65 sound processors removed and went fully digital in all five screens using NEC digital projectors with Doremi servers, Only screen one retains its Victoria 8 35mm projector and Cinemecanica non rewind system alongside the Digital system for the occasional 35mm shows.
The digital network within the cinema is overseen by Unique Digital using its Rosetta Bridge Theatre Management System and any problems can be dealt with remotely from their network operations centre in Norway.
It came as a big surprise to all and sundry that a lens with small enough a focal distance was available to fill the screen in Odeon 1 at such a short throw.
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
located opposite Marble Arch
Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England...
monument at the top of Park Lane
Park Lane (road)
Park Lane is a major road in the City of Westminster, in Central London.-History:Originally a country lane running north-south along what is now the eastern boundary of Hyde Park, it became a fashionable residential address from the eighteenth century onwards, offering both views across Hyde Park...
, with its main entrance on Edgware Road, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is most famous for once housing a vast screen capable of screening films in 70mm.
Regal/Odeon Marble Arch (1928-1964)
The site was first occupied by the RegalRegal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas is a UK-based cinema chain since the early days of the cinema. In 1928, Regal Cinemas became part of Associated British Cinemas but has retained the name 'Regal Cinemas'....
, opening in 1928. A 100 feet (30.5 m) high facade was constructed in Portland Stone
Portland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
. The auditorium was a riot of romanesque motifs and faux-decor, owing much to the atmospheric style of the USA. Structured in traditional circle and stalls, the cinema was a notable addition to the West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
.
The cinema was renamed Odeon
Odeon Cinemas
Odeon Cinemas is a British chain of cinemas, one of the largest in Europe. It is owned by Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group whose ultimate parent is Terra Firma Capital Partners.-History:Odeon Cinemas was created in 1928 by Oscar Deutsch...
in 1945 and continued as a first-run house. However by the early 1960s its interior was decidedly faded and neglected. Film-runs had by this point declined to minor circuit pictures or even dubbed foreign films: insufficient to fill its large house.
The response to this situation was to demolish the cinema and rebuild an ultra modern cinema capable of playing the new widescreen formats in more contemporary surrounds, thus the Odeon was demolished in 1964 to make way for a modern replacement.
Odeon Marble Arch (1967-1997)
Opening in 1967, the Odeon was the largest cinema constructed in the post-war years. The screen, measuring 75 feet (22.9 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m), with a depth of curvature of 17 feet (5.2 m), was the largest in the country. Projection was level, beaming from the rear of the stalls, allowing for an even image.The cinema was constructed to showcase films in the various 70mm processes, as well as conventional 35mm films, allowing for considerable spectable. Presentations included: Far from the Madding Crowd
Far from the Madding Crowd (1967 film)
Far from the Madding Crowd is a 1967 British drama film directed by John Schlesinger, adapted from the book of the same name by Thomas Hardy. It was Schlesinger's fourth film and marked a stylistic shift away from his earlier works which explored contemporary urban mores. The cinematography was by...
, A Bridge Too Far, Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
, Die Hard
Die Hard
Die Hard is a 1988 American action film and the first in the Die Hard film series. The film was directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza. It is based on a 1979 novel by Roderick Thorp titled Nothing Lasts Forever, itself a sequel to the book The Detective, which...
, Return of the Jedi, Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia (film)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel through his British company, Horizon Pictures, with the screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. It is widely...
.
Seating was 1360 in total, split between a spaciously raked circle (front and rear) and stalls (stepped towards the rear). Sight-lines were excellent throughout.
The auditorium was a cavernous space, with textured panelling on both side walls, partially concealing curtained backing. Variable lighting was installed in the outer rim of the ceiling to play different coloured schemes over the walls during intermissions. A single set of tabs (curtains) revealed the immense screen.
Foyer areas were reached via escalator from a ground floor box office.
A somewhat flatter screen was installed following the revival of Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia (film)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel through his British company, Horizon Pictures, with the screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. It is widely...
to allow for a less distorted view of the desert skylines.
Digital sound was installed in the 1990s, including ceiling speakers.
A special screening in 1997 of Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
's Gandhi
Gandhi (film)
Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. They both...
in 70mm and six-track magnetic sound marked the end of the Odeon as a single-screen cinema.
Conversion (1997 to present day)
In 1997, the cinema was converted into a 5 screen multiplex, within the existing space. The circle was split into two inter-locked screens; rear stalls similarly, with the front stalls now utilising the original screen, albeit somewhat reduced in size to allow for the adjusted sightlines from a much smaller auditorium. The projection team at the closing as a single screen, and the opening as a 5 screen were John Paish (Senior Technician), Warren Dargavel (Head Painter and Executive in charge of lamps and multimeter probes), Steffan Laugharne (Chief House Engineer), John Peck (Handyman).The 1997 closure and conversion had been mooted for several years, and public outcry at losing such a spectacular venue - most notably in the pages of the London weekly listings magazine "Time Out", in which Hellboy
Hellboy (film)
Hellboy is a 2004 supernatural superhero film, starring Ron Perlman, John Hurt and Selma Blair, directed by Guillermo del Toro. The film is based on the Dark Horse Comics work Hellboy: Seed of Destruction by Mike Mignola. It was produced by Revolution Studios, and distributed by Columbia Pictures...
screenwriter Peter Briggs
Peter Briggs
Peter Briggs is a British born and based director, producer, screenwriter, and concept artist; hired generally by overseas Hollywood motion picture studios. Although having worked in the motion picture industry for close to 20 years, he is best known for his work on the acclaimed film Hellboy...
played a vocal role - delayed the process on at least one occasion.
In March 2011 Odeon Marble Arch had its 35mm projectors and CP65 sound processors removed and went fully digital in all five screens using NEC digital projectors with Doremi servers, Only screen one retains its Victoria 8 35mm projector and Cinemecanica non rewind system alongside the Digital system for the occasional 35mm shows.
The digital network within the cinema is overseen by Unique Digital using its Rosetta Bridge Theatre Management System and any problems can be dealt with remotely from their network operations centre in Norway.
It came as a big surprise to all and sundry that a lens with small enough a focal distance was available to fill the screen in Odeon 1 at such a short throw.