New website for insider pix of odeon restoration

.....good new site at odeon2odyssey with views of roof and basement most of us have no chance of getting to see any other way...

.....am looking forward to the exciting news mentioned in the blog. Could it be an actual opening date?

St Albans Fire Service & our cinema

long e mail from J.H explaining last weekend's events stopped by our Fire Service. As this pic from 1927 (thanks to S.A. museum site) shows they know what it's like when there's trouble at the cinema.

At some point in the late 90's there was an attempt to burn the cinema down & as some Lower Paxton Rd residents might remember the Fire brigade had to park their appliances in London Rd and run the hoses down the steps to fight the blaze. So the Fire Service has bad memories of this site. Anyway only an idiot wouldn't co-operate with them so we'll all have to wait a bit longer......

All events this weekend cancelled

e mail this a.m. saying both Grease & open day on Sunday cancelled. No explanation. Wd be nice to know why even tho' I couldn't have gone. No doubt reason will be revealed. Annoying for people who'd planned their weekend round it all......

St Albans cinema limbers up -

Yes, the moment has arrived....a showing of Grease on Sat 10 Sept at 7 30pm...take blankets, your own supply of chocolate & wear warm socks etc...for those of you who haven't had an e mail from Mr H the number to ring to book is 01442 877759. Numbers limited to 300.

And the building will also be open 12.30 - 2.30 on Sunday the 11th....just to admire progress.

St Albans Odyssey open day

Some pictures of today's Open Day. I went late...but it seemed just as crowded as these days have been before, despite the cold rainy weather.

Much more sense of a new cinema emerging...the model is encouraging...and the drawings show just how much work has been done to clear the space.

A feature film is being made of the whole restoration. A pity they weren't there eight years ago to film the Public Enquiry when it was survival or the bulldozers for the whole building. I know who was there to speak up for it...but then I have the memory of a particularly bitter elephant....

Odyssey signed up

If you half shut your eyes and have a good imagination it's just about possible to get a sense of how the cinema will look when once again it has its name up in big letters....this banner is the first bit of glamorous signage the poor old wreck has had the chance to show off in years so it's worth appreciating.

Hope there's a milling crowd of thousands tomorrow for the chance to see the extent of the restoration.

(This week I am moving out of the area. If I get the chance to call back and take pictures will try to do so but it's good bye Lower Paxton Rd and goodbye to the cinema as my neighbour. )