Paramount Odeon, Liverpool - England 1934 - 2011 | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Written by: Mike Taylor, The 65/70mm Workshop & Former projectionist - Paramount / Odeon Liverpool | Date: 12.09.2011 |
 Bulldozing
a Todd-AO cinema. Image Mike TaylorWith the demise of the Paramount / Odeon on London Road, the final link with the "Golden Age of Hollywood" has gone. Opened in 1934, it was one of several Paramount theatres across England. With a seating capacity of 2670, it was the largest cinema in Liverpool city centre. Sold in 1942 to the Odeon Circuit of the Rank Organisation, it continued as a single screen cinema up to 1968. During the Widescreen Era, it was the first cinema in Liverpool to install CinemaScope (1954) for 20th Century Fox's film "The Robe". Todd-AO was installed (1958) and opened on Boxing Day of that year with "South Pacific". Being the leading cinema in Liverpool at that time it became the home for all future 70mm "Road Show" presentations for the Rank Organisation. | More in 70mm reading: Mike Taylor joins 65/70mm Workshop 65/70mm Workshop DP70s in England Internet link: Cinema Treasures Streets of Liverpool Cinemaroll
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 The
Paramount in all its Todd-AO glory. Image Mike TaylorIn 1968, the Odeon was split into two auditoria. The prestige Odeon One upstairs with Philips DP70 projectors, and the more modest Odeon Two downstairs with Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 projectors. It was interesting to have two 70mm screens in such a building. During the 1970,s the cinema was split further to make five screens, and prior to closing had been converted into ten. This once magnificent movie palace was smashed to pieces to accomplish this multiplex. However, it did escape the undignified conversion into a "Digima" so we can be thankful for that. But alas, it is now just a memory and a heap of rubble. | |
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