The Odeon Cinema, Holmside c late 1950s.
This cinema started as the "Regal" which opened in 1932, a huge ornate Art-Deco theatre with a wide proscenium, deep stage, and compton organ rising from a pit.. Pre-war shows ran twice daily each often lasting over four hours included the stage turns, two main films, pathe news, trailers and an organ performance by Arnold Eagle advertised as "Eagle at the Regal". There were many dressing rooms for performers and the complex included a restaurant and a large roller skating rink (later a dance hall) extending into Park Lane adjacent.. Ranks took over the Regal in 1955 when it became the Odeon offering a more restricted type of entertainment.
Information from Len Charlton.
