Odeon Hemel Hempstead

Marlowes,
Hemel Hempstead, HP1

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Alan Baker
Alan Baker on March 4, 2015 at 1:26 pm

Prior to the deal for the Jarmans Field cinema, Odeon Cinemas MD Jim Whittel was planning to take the Odeon back from the bingo crowd and triple it along the lines of the very similar Odeon Harlow.

Ian
Ian on February 29, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Exterior picture here:–

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Mrque
Mrque on September 1, 2007 at 3:43 pm

Thank you for the information Ian on the two other cinema’s which I now do recall. The Luxor I only remember seeing as it was being demolished, where as the Princess I passed every day to and from work at the Odeon. I made a visit to Hemel Hempstead in the late 90’s and called in at the Odeon. I had a chat with the manager and he allowed me to have a look in the projection room where I’d worked all those years ago as a young man. It brought back lots of happy memories of the times.

Ian
Ian on September 1, 2007 at 10:02 am

The Princess (on a site in front of the present town hall) and the Luxor (on what is now Marlowes a bit further towards the Odeon from Bank Court).

And No! I don’t remember them!

There was also a much older cinema called (I think) the Aero which was somewhere up near W H Smiths at the end of Marlowes in Albion Hill. The Luxor took the Aero name from opening in 1926 until sound was installed in 1930.

The Luxor closed first (in 1960 6 months before the Odeon opened) and the Princess in 1962. Both were compulsorily purchased for the building of Hemel Hempstead New Town.

Mrque
Mrque on September 1, 2007 at 9:18 am

I was 2nd projectionist at this cinema shortly after it opened in 1960. The projection room was very spacious and had it’s own toilet and washing facilities ajoining it. The projectors were Kalee 21s and I think Ross carbon arc’s. These were water cooled because so much heat was generated by the carbons. I have a photograph of the projection room showing myself about to do a change over. I can add it to the site if anyone is interested in seeing it. There were two other cinemas in Hemel Hempstead at that time, one had already closed, but the other was still open as I remember it was showing the film ‘Saturday Night And Sunday Morning’ which became one of my favourite all time films. I can’t remember the names of either of those cinemas, but I’m sure someone will recall them who lived in Hemel at that time.

Ian
Ian on January 28, 2006 at 2:36 pm

A 1989 photo of the buildings exterior with the cine-bingo signage here

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Ian
Ian on January 28, 2006 at 2:34 pm

A 1989 photo of the buildings exterior with the cine-bingo signage here

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Ken Roe
Ken Roe on September 15, 2005 at 12:23 pm

The Odeon was operating a split week Bingo/Cinema operation from 27th March 1974 and closed for films on 22nd August 1985 to become a full time Bingo Club operated by Jasmine.

It is now a pub in the Weatherspoon chain called ‘The Full House’ which opened on 21st July 1998.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on September 14, 2005 at 2:33 pm

A 1961 exterior photograph of the Odeon Hemel Hempstead here:
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And a full view of the Odeon in 1968 here:
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