Odeon Cinema, High Street, Kingston Upon Thames, Greater London
A view of the cinema decorated for George V's jubilee. Opened as an Odeon in 1933, this cinema closed in 1967 and became a bingo hall until 1987. The building was demolished in 1989 and replaced with shops, followed by the opening of The Rose theatre in 2008. The Odeon cinema company was founded in 1930 by Oscar Deutsch. During the 1930s, it grew to become one of the country’s major chains of cinemas. The first five Odeon cinemas opened in 1933, and by 1936 there were 142 across the country. Although each Odeon was unique, the use of a set range of architectural features meant that most of the cinemas were instantly recognisable as an 'Odeon', with their distinctive Modernist style. The slogan, ‘Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation’ (ODEON) was also synonymous with the brand.
