Odeon Cinema, Penhill Road, Lancing, West Sussex
Opened in October 1933, this Odeon was the fifth in the chain but had a different design. It became the Regal Cinema in 1936, then returned to the Odeon chain in the 1940s. It closed as a cinema in January 1950. 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.
