Comments from laurajade18

Haha Philip, no worries, and apologies! and totally agree, there is still plenty left so worth a visit – and for people to take a good look at some of the details.
And I had to laugh at your mention of the two buildings remaining. I think I read somewhere (and I hope someone can confirm this story!) that when building the paramount, Ma Egerton’s (the pub around the back by Lime Street station) was under consideration for demolition, and the paramount was to take up the whole space. But the landlord’s refused to sell up, meaning the planners had to rethink and build around the pub! And now Ma Egerton’s is going to outlive the Odeon it seems that pub will never die!
The same demolition company pulled down the building further up London Road, which was the old Collier’s Tailors clothing store, and it took them a while to demolish that as well.

Woody – great photo link, I was pleased to see the old faÃ§ade revealed once again when I visited! Shame its stayed hidden for so long!

I know, have been past it a few times and they made a big mess and now don’t seem to be making any more progress. I didn’t mention that it had been completed – in fact I was wondering why they seem to be keeping the back part of the building up. As I know nothing about demolition I guess I will never know! Perhaps it is just easier to start on that side of the building where they do not have to shut off any roads.
I really hope though that they haven’t made a start and now leave it in the state for several months, they should put it out of its misery if they intend to as soon as they can.

The demolition is well under way, incredibly sad, walked past it tonight with a gaping hole in the side. Just terrible. There is also a magazine available, another of the liverpool life in association with the echo magazines on lost cinemas of liverpool and the cover picture is of the grand Paramount/Odeon itself. Such a shame that it’s coincided with the demolition of this great picture house.

Thank you S Porridge, when me and my dad came across it was just such a sad and sorry sight, my dad even said he doubted it would remain there long. I think unfortunately the people in the local area had grown tired of seeing it and it unfortunately became an eyesore. I think the area suffers from frequent vandalism, especially to empty properties; and also from the mindless demolition of their historical buildings despite the public voice calling out for renovation and restoration rather than losing the entire face of their community. It’s only a very small town so its a real shame. And Simon that’s so very true, whoever set fire to the Curzon should really be ashamed of themselves.

I never had the chance to go into the Oxford Road Odeon, unfortunately, however, i used to walk past it nearly every day whilst i was at Salford Uni. I used to look up at it and think how sad it was that it was boarded up. I ended up doing a little research and reading up about the Gaumont, and the Oxford Picture House (now mcDonald’s) and the countless cinemas along that road, and became absolutely fascinated. It’s funny because whilst people do kick up a fuss at other cinemas closing, this one always seems to keep people talking, whether it’s because of the demolition rumours i don’t know.

I even wrote an article in the student paper, I was that incensed and focused on getting the place re-opened – in the article i interviewed Aidan O'Rourke (from 3D fan’s link!) I’m guessing the Covenant and the details about the interior ‘trashing’ came as a pretty huge blow to him, he was a big campaigner for saving the building and preventing it’s possible faceless replacement.

Anyone interested in this cinema should read about the history of entertainment and cinema along the Oxford Road/Peter Street Axis. It goes back well over 100 years, and it’s really sad, with the exception of the Cornerhouse the end of the Odeon brings the end of that fantastic piece of history. It was Manchester’s most prestigious and luxiourious cinema, it survived world war II’s blitz, it was one of the very few Odeon cinemas which didn’t adopt their unique and now classic architecture, it showed the first full length technicolour movie. It is virtually the last of the manchester picture houses, it outlived pretty much every other in the city, the Gaumont, the Picadilly Picture House, The Deansgate Picture House, The Grosvenor, The New Oxford, The Regal… which is a great feat in itself.

I’m so passionate about this one, and I never even got to step foot in it! It will be such a sad day when the knock it down.

I have been to the Apollo many times as a concert-goer, it was the first building to start my interest in old cinema buildings, it is absolutely stunning inside, fantastic surroundings to see a band in! So glad that it has been kept!

Hi, I work with a girl who has a second job doing bar work at Halo, and I’m pretty sure from the way she describes the place now that the old cinemas upstairs are used for individual rooms for different music and DJ’s. Shame.