The Galleon on the original Drake Cinema was retained, and returned to the facade of the Casino. I managed to go to this cinema, and the ABC several times when I was able to… if you looked up the exit stairs to where the projection room was, you could still see the original Fox Theatres carpet on the treads.
I don’t remember Rank ever owning the building outright. They leased it off of The Prudential, who had bought the freehold off of Fox. They (Fox) had stipulated that the ‘Drake’ name should not be removed, hence it was known as the ‘Drake Odeon’.
Visited Halstead on the 26th January, 2012. Pleased to say that the Empire is showing films again, but that the Picture House/Savoy is closed up and for sale, the childrens play area now closed. It is still in the same horrendous colour scheme though.
The Galleon on the original Drake Cinema was retained, and returned to the facade of the Casino. I managed to go to this cinema, and the ABC several times when I was able to… if you looked up the exit stairs to where the projection room was, you could still see the original Fox Theatres carpet on the treads.
I don’t remember Rank ever owning the building outright. They leased it off of The Prudential, who had bought the freehold off of Fox. They (Fox) had stipulated that the ‘Drake’ name should not be removed, hence it was known as the ‘Drake Odeon’.
Visited Halstead on the 26th January, 2012. Pleased to say that the Empire is showing films again, but that the Picture House/Savoy is closed up and for sale, the childrens play area now closed. It is still in the same horrendous colour scheme though.