Future Odyssey

Image: © Ian Capper Taken: 4 Oct 2011

This was the site of St Albans' first cinema, conceived in 1908 by pioneer Arthur Melbourne-Cooper to showcase his own productions. Called the Alpha Picture Palace, it was designed by architect Percival Blow and was one of the first modern-style cinemas. It was later renamed the Poly and then the Regent, but burnt down in 1927. The current building, its replacement, originally called the Capitol, opened on 3 December 1931. It was again designed by Percival Blow, along with J Martin Hatfield. In 1945 it was renamed the Odeon. It later was one of the first Odeon cinemas to be converted into a multi-screen complex, reopening with three screens in 1973, with a fourth screen added in 1988. However, it did not last long in this format, with the whole cinema closing in August 1995. A number of proposals have been put forward for the site over the years, but in 2009 it was purchased by James Hannaway, who had previously restored the Rex cinema in Berkhamsted. It is expected to reopen in 2012, and following a competition it will be called the Odyssey. The facade is locally listed.

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