THE ODEON THEATRE
WESTON SUPER MARE
&
THE COMPTON THEATRE ORGAN
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PART 2: THE OPENING OF
THE ODEON THEATRE/CINEMA
WESTON SUPER MARE
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The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare (2017)
(Photograph provided by Paul Bland)
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A Pageboy at the Theatre whose main job apparently was to bring tea to the more wealthy patrons
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The Grand Opening of The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare was indeed a Gala Event taking place on Saturday, the 25th May, 1935. Mr. Deutsch was present in his capacity as Chairman of the Odeon Company, together with his wife and specially invited dignitaries.
The Grand Opening of The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare
Mr. Deutsch is seated at the far left presumably with his wife to his left
Unfortunately I am unable to name the remaining dignitaries on stage or
The apparent Master of Ceremonies
There was a Souvenir Programme produced for the occasion where the building was described as Modernity at its best and with seating accommodation that was that was both luxurious and spaced to give ample room for true comfort.
As one may see from the photograph, an aptly Art Deco design adorned the Proscenium Safety Curtains and the stage was decorated with ferns and small palms.
I am sure that the audience was thrilled at the sight of the glorious Compton Theatre Organ with the renowned organist, Mr. Alfred Richards seated at the keys of the illuminated Cascade-styled Console as it rose into the Auditorium from the Orchestra Pit.
Alfred Richards at The Opening of The Odeon Theatre/Cinema Weston Super Mare
Apparently, Mr. Richards played a number of melonic tunes for the audience’s delight, which included a piece that he is said to have written for the occasion, entitled Round the corner (at the Odeon).
The facts surrounding the history, author and recording of Round the corner (at the Odeon) is not as simple (and clear) as first thought, as there are conflicting theories surrounding the piece.
It has been suggested that this piece was not written specifically for the opening of The Odeon Theatre/Cinema Weston Super Mare, but perhaps for The Odeon Circuit in general.
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WHO ACTUALLY WROTE ROUND THE CORNER (AT THE ODEON)?
The following information appears on the website, MICHAEL THOMAS’ WEBSITE:
As stated on Mr. Thomas’ Website, Round the corner (at the Odeon) was later recorded on a 78 rpm gramophone record by Cinecord Records in June 1935 featuring Billy Merrin (1900-1980) & His Commanders (OD 1; S-4252).
Billy Marin & His Commanders
Cinecord Records, which operated between August and November 1935, were manufactured by the British Homophone Limited. The Company’s gramophone records were seemingly not for sale to the public, although apparently some managed to be sold, but were produced for The Odeon Circuit.
As can be seen from the reproduction above,
no author’s name appears on the label of the recording.
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The discography lists the tune as Round the Corner (The Odeon Song) and states that the composer was Kenneth Leslie-Smith (1896-1958), and not Alfred Richards, and was recorded on the 7th June, 1935 with Ken Crossley as the vocalist and issued on Cinecord Records (OD-1). At this time, Mr. Smith was Head of Light Music at Boosey & Hawkes, which has been confirmed by The Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS).
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I recently contacted the resident organist at the Odeon Theatre (ODEON LUXE) Leicester Square, Mr. Donald MacKenzie who often plays the tune as his Intro & Outro of his concerts. He has offered some very interesting insights into the origin and authorship of this tune.
Donald MacKenzie playing ROUND THE CORNER
as an Intro & an Outro at his concert given at the Astoria Centre Barnsley
and playing the Compton Theatre Organ (3-manuals; 18 ranks) previously installed
at the Astoria Cinema, Purley.
This piece appears here with the permission of Mr. Donald MacKenzie
After much investigation, Mr. MacKenzie concluded that:
the tune, Round the Corner was not written by Alfred Richards, but by Kenneth Leslie-Smith, as his name appears on the later Odeon (Parlophone) recording and was a private one-sided recording probably made specifically for The Odeon Circuit in 1937. The Catalogue number shows a Private Issue in the Parlophone Catalogue, but what is unclear is why it appears on the Odeon label since it was not a continental issue. I checked this out with The Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) and the tune is registered to Leslie-Smith with no mention of Alfred Richard. In addition, I can find no evidence that this tune was played at the opening night of the Odeon Weston-Super-Mare. So I am very doubtful about the whole story and the Richards-alleged connection.
Left: The Odeon Logo; Right: The Parlophone Logo
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Mr. John Wright is an enthusiast of British Dance Band Music of the 1920s-1940s and a wonderful font of knowledge on the subject. He has discovered a copy of Round the Corner (at the Odeon) complete with vocal at Heritage Quay. It is interesting to note that the vocalist on this gramophone record is credited to KC. Could this be Ken Crossley?
Round the Corner (at the Odeon) – Billy Merrin & His Commanders (recorded 7th June, 1935)
Appears here with the permission of Heritage Quay
Heritage Quay is an information, records management and archive service at the University of Huddersfield. This piece of music is part of the Charles Hippisley-Cox British Dance Band Collection (1911-1945) that was assembled by Charles Hippisley-Cox, a semi-retired and occasional Associate Senior Lecturer in Architectural Studies at the University.
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Mr. Richards remained as resident organist at the Theatre until 1937 when Mr. Charles Randolph took over the position and remained for an unknown period of time.
Charles Randolph at the Console of The Compton Theatre Organ of
The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare
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The first film shown at the Odeon Theatre/Cinema Weston Super Mare was Brewster’s Millions starring Jack Buchanan ( 1891-1957), Lili Damita (1904-1994) and Nancy O’Neil (1907-1995). The film, a musical comedy, was produced by Herbert Wilcox (1890-1977) and directed by Thornton Freeland (1898-1987), and was distributed by United Artists (UK).
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The Theatre/Cinema enjoyed good patronage through the years, as people enjoyed going to the pictures and most enjoyed the Theatre Organ interludes together with the Singalongs. However, times change and people began staying home and watching television in great numbers as the late 1950s moved into the 1960s. As a result, cinema patronage suffered.
Singing artists and groups quickly gained great popularity in the late 1950s and 1960s thanks to appearances on television and through gramophone record sales. As a result, it soon become clear that fans actually wanted to see and hear their favourite artists. In order to fulfill this need and as a way of maintaining revenue, cinemas began presenting travelling live Stage Shows, mostly to appeal to younger audiences, where a number of artists appeared together with a major performer of the time.
During the 1960s, the Odeon Theatre/Cinema Weston Super Mare featured a number of such Shows including a number of concerts given by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to name but two groups.
Stage Shows
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Unfortunately, it became increasingly more and more difficult for Circuit and Independent Cinema owners to fill these establishments with patrons. This caused many to turn their cinemas in Multiplexes, where the auditorium was converted into smaller two, three and sometimes four smaller Screens. The origin of this plan was to increase the number of films offered to the dwindling audiences and also hoped to attract lost patrons.
On the 23rd December, 1973, The Odeon Theatre/Cinema Weston Super Mare reopened as a three-screen Mutiplex (Screens 1, 2 & 3). The largest new Screen 1 was the erstwhile Circle while the stalls were converted in two smaller cinemas, Screen 2 & 3. Later, a fourth Screen was created in the front stalls area, Screen 4, which was opened in June 1991. According to Cinema Treasures, as of 2008, the seating capacity of the various Screens is: 552, 104, 122 and 275 .
The Compton Theatre Organ survived these changes and, in recent years, several concerts a year have been given. The Organ was restored by the West of England Theatre Organ Society in 1999 who continue to maintain it. The Organ may be viewed from the erstwhile Circle where the stage retains the original art deco Proscenium Arch and Orchestra Pit.
The Odeon Theatre/Cinema Weston Super Mare was given Grade II listing on 21st August, 1986. Despite it being a listed building, the large exterior O D E O N letters that appeared on the Main Tower, have been replaced by the new owners’ more elongated lettering.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Messrs Michael Wooldridge, Len Rawle and Keith Beckingham for their conversation and help in the writing of this piece.
I would especially like to thank Mr. Donald MacKenzie for his help and for allowing his Intro & Outro to appear here.
I would like to thank Mr. Paul Bland and Mr. Peter Simpson for their help in the preparation of this piece.
I would very much like to thank Mr. Michael Thomas for his terrific website and for allowing his quote to appear here.
I would also especially like to thank Mr. John Wright for his help and great efforts in the hunt to find information and a copy of Round the Corner (at the Odeon).
Finally, I would also like to thank the members of the Archives of the University Huddersfield and Professor Charles Hippisley-Cox (Charles Hippisley-Cox British Dance Band Collection (1911-1945) maintained at Heritage Quay) who have agreed to a copy of Round the Corner (at the Odeon) to appear here.
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Very interesting, especially history of Round the Corner. I always thought it referred to the Odeon, Leicester Square.
I do hope the Compton organ will be saved. I played it in concerts on three occasions and it deserves to find a permanent home.
Keith:
Many thanks for your kind comment. I hope that the Theatre Organ (and Theatre/Cinema) will be saved too.