IT’S going to be a big year for Bradford’s historic Odeon building.
Built in 1930 as variety palace the New Victoria, the venue became the Gaumont dance and concert hall in the 1950s and 60s then the Odeon cinema. Now it is being transformed by Bradford Live into a major entertainment venue set to open in the autumn.
The history of the building is celebrated in Bringing the Beat Back to Bradford, running at the Impressions Gallery in City Park until March. The exhibition is packed with memorabilia from the much-loved building - photographs, programmes, posters and tickets loaned by people, many of who worked there or had relatives who did.
Also on display are cinema signs and seats, and the original mirrorball installed in the auditorium for the exploding Death Star scene in Star Wars.
Many people’s Odeon memories are of queuing round the block to watch Star Wars blockbusters. Pictured is a queue for a Star Wars 'marathon screening' in 1983. Were you there?
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