It's impressive what the new owners have done inside and out which costs millions no doubt to improve its originality. Yes it's fine for today's modern world and it's customers and shows us a Glimpse of what once was there originally !! It remains single in its auditorium thankfully but my own opinion is i can remember how it once was there before sixties alterations and since then it's gone through some changes which none have been impressive at all and many still agree that Odeon should not have altered this once fine art deco masterpiece.
The cost of the full refurbishment/alterations was said to be estimated at £10-15m before work started. Reinstating the 1930’s plasterwork from balcony to proscenium (that was removed in the ’67 refurbishment) is difficult. Whereas such plasterwork was standard in the 1930’s, that’s not the case today and it’s a long way from a standard fit-out. The fabric ceiling/sidewalls at proscenium end hide a number of speakers for the Atmos sound system, plus acoustic absorption (Rockwool), and there was a definite need to control the acoustics. Unfortunately, it doesn’t integrate properly with the 1930’s plasterwork above the balcony. Possibly something closer to the original could be achieved using modern acoustic plaster products, but presumably cost (already high) and time (cinema was closed for the best part of a year) must factor in. The tension between modernisation and keeping it as a “museum piece” is perhaps most felt with the new near-black colour of the auditorium ceiling/sidewalls-but to have kept them white would have crippled the performance of the Dolby Cinema projection system. Otherwise, I’m having a hard time trying to imagine how the original could have been “better”-whether it’s the recliner seating in the stalls/Royal Circle, or the new wood panelling (actually an “acoustic wood” product with lots of tiny holes, more Rockwool behind.) The completely reimagined foyers look better than photos I’ve seen of the originals and are full of high-quality finishes; the "glass box" over the front canopy is also an excellent addition.
Apparently there was a Royal Premier for the re-opening after the '67 refurbishment and The Queen said to J Arthur Rank "this is no improvement at all"
@@CF-uh2xl Here is why the original was better. Because there was always something to look at if the film was crap and given that the vast majority of them now are exactly that, now there is nothing to look at!
It's actually a Compton, and the only 5 manual cinema organ they built. Comptons were a british pipe organ manufacturer. Wurlitzers were the American counterpart.
And still the woefully small screen vs the size of the auditorium...grrr a missed opportunity which will never be rectified..only stalls seating or front circle ( at huge ticket price helps( . And don't ever go to the rear circle as you will feel detached and need binoculars lol..kind regards..BTW love the screen tabs ( blue) I'll give it a try when next I London though x Plus at least the public areas are finally larger too,I've been spoilt since 2010 in Thailand cinemas as they had recliner seats and huge screens then when their 2 national chains opened/expanded ( Major and SFX brands)and refurbished to very high standards prior to Lux etc
Being back the original Odeon too to watch to the bond film in !! It was grand the way it was before been ruined inside and modernised beyond all recognition .
I think we should be grateful that the OLS is still with us The screen is great the picture is great and so thankful the tabs have been reinstated albeit a bit too slow The only distracting thing is the flying ladies which seem to take the eye Thank you owners of Odeon for still operating OLS
For Bond's most recent outing, the première was still held at the Royal Albert Hall, but it certainly ran at the Odeon Leicester Square, complete with "O7" signage in Odeon's font added vertically below the "O" of the horizontal Odeon sign at the top of the "glass box."
Nothing what they do to this once amazing art deco cinema of the thirties will ever replace the original exterior and interior which was smashed to bits in the late sixties .
Please read today's TOM OUTDOORS video. That's the channel.The bottle House Inn.Penhurst. It's relating to a church named after your Leceister Square. Please watch ful video.Its where Leceister Square got it's name.
It's impressive what the new owners have done inside and out which costs millions no doubt to improve its originality. Yes it's fine for today's modern world and it's customers and shows us a Glimpse of what once was there originally !! It remains single in its auditorium thankfully but my own opinion is i can remember how it once was there before sixties alterations and since then it's gone through some changes which none have been impressive at all and many still agree that Odeon should not have altered this once fine art deco masterpiece.
The cost of the full refurbishment/alterations was said to be estimated at £10-15m before work started.
Reinstating the 1930’s plasterwork from balcony to proscenium (that was removed in the ’67 refurbishment) is difficult. Whereas such plasterwork was standard in the 1930’s, that’s not the case today and it’s a long way from a standard fit-out.
The fabric ceiling/sidewalls at proscenium end hide a number of speakers for the Atmos sound system, plus acoustic absorption (Rockwool), and there was a definite need to control the acoustics. Unfortunately, it doesn’t integrate properly with the 1930’s plasterwork above the balcony.
Possibly something closer to the original could be achieved using modern acoustic plaster products, but presumably cost (already high) and time (cinema was closed for the best part of a year) must factor in.
The tension between modernisation and keeping it as a “museum piece” is perhaps most felt with the new near-black colour of the auditorium ceiling/sidewalls-but to have kept them white would have crippled the performance of the Dolby Cinema projection system.
Otherwise, I’m having a hard time trying to imagine how the original could have been “better”-whether it’s the recliner seating in the stalls/Royal Circle, or the new wood panelling (actually an “acoustic wood” product with lots of tiny holes, more Rockwool behind.)
The completely reimagined foyers look better than photos I’ve seen of the originals and are full of high-quality finishes; the "glass box" over the front canopy is also an excellent addition.
Apparently there was a Royal Premier for the re-opening after the '67 refurbishment and The Queen said to J Arthur Rank "this is no improvement at all"
@@CF-uh2xl Here is why the original was better. Because there was always something to look at if the film was crap and given that the vast majority of them now are exactly that, now there is nothing to look at!
I’m surprised they even got a working Wurlitzer in this place.
It's actually a Compton, and the only 5 manual cinema organ they built. Comptons were a british pipe organ manufacturer. Wurlitzers were the American counterpart.
@@OrganMusicYT Oh, my bad.
And still the woefully small screen vs the size of the auditorium...grrr a missed opportunity which will never be rectified..only stalls seating or front circle ( at huge ticket price helps( . And don't ever go to the rear circle as you will feel detached and need binoculars lol..kind regards..BTW love the screen tabs ( blue) I'll give it a try when next I London though x Plus at least the public areas are finally larger too,I've been spoilt since 2010 in Thailand cinemas as they had recliner seats and huge screens then when their 2 national chains opened/expanded ( Major and SFX brands)and refurbished to very high standards prior to Lux etc
Bring back Bond to the Odeon.
Being back the original Odeon too to watch to the bond film in !! It was grand the way it was before been ruined inside and modernised beyond all recognition .
I think we should be grateful that the OLS is still with us
The screen is great the picture is great and so thankful the tabs have been reinstated albeit a bit too slow
The only distracting thing is the flying ladies which seem to take the eye
Thank you owners of Odeon for still operating OLS
For Bond's most recent outing, the première was still held at the Royal Albert Hall, but it certainly ran at the Odeon Leicester Square, complete with "O7" signage in Odeon's font added vertically below the "O" of the horizontal Odeon sign at the top of the "glass box."
@@CF-uh2xl The same one "Timothy Dalton" scaled down on a rope for The Living Daylights premiere (I was there)
Very nice.
Nothing what they do to this once amazing art deco cinema of the thirties will ever replace the original exterior and interior which was smashed to bits in the late sixties .
A 5 screen cinema wich is in London and overpriced what more can you expect
Please read today's TOM OUTDOORS video. That's the channel.The bottle House Inn.Penhurst. It's relating to a church named after your Leceister Square. Please watch ful video.Its where Leceister Square got it's name.