Former Odeon (New Vic) Action Group Meeting

17th, March 2010 by

Celebrating the opening night of the Odeon CinemaAn action group has been set up with a vision to revive the old Odeon cinema on Church Street. The Former Odeon (New Vic) Action Group are holding their first meeting this Saturday 20th March at The Convent – rear of St Walburge’s Church at 2pm.

Check out their Facegroup group for further information.

Image Credit: Celebrating the opening night for the new Odeon in Preston 1963 courtesy of Tony Worrall
  • MC1

    Did the action group meeting take place and what was the outcome? I’d support this venture and don’t want to appear cynical but I think certain realities need to be faced. How realistic is it to base this project on the Cornerhouse model (as suggested on the Facebook group)? Cornerhouse has developed its offer and reputation over nearly quarter of a century, offers a great deal more in terms of facilities and operation than simply showing films and is immediately adjacent to major transport links in one of the biggest cities in the UK.

    As we all know, Tithebarn may never happen. But if it does it will include a multiplex cinema. Has anyone discussed this independent cinema project with the Council? I doubt they’d sanction another town centre cinema in addition to any proposed Tithebarn one as they’d be keen to maintain any incentive they can to get potential Tithebarn developers on board.

    Have the owners of the site agreed that they will lease it to any eventual charitable group set up to run and finance the cinema? What is the attitude of the current owners to the project?

    I wish this group well but would encourage regular reality checks. On the Facebook group it mentions that only three or four people had committed to turning up to a meeting about this project. Exeprience tells me that many people lend vocal support to projects such as these in Preston but when puch comes to shove the amount that are actually prepared to lend time and effort is relatively small.

  • D Taylor

    MC1, you are very cynical,you start off with a question that you answered near the end of your post, so why ask it?.
    Yes I was one of the four people who did make the effort to turn up,pity you did not, and because of that little meeting of four,the next meeting this group will will be at the Mitchell and Kenyon Building Foster Bld Uclan on the Thursday 8th April 2010 at 7pm, it is an open meeting so I hope you can spend the time and effort to attend, or are you like the many people like you say, not prepared to lend time and effort.
    They got this venue because I got it for them, with the many thanks of UCLAN Student’s Union,if I had not attended they would not have got it,so because of that small meeting the group have got a little bit bigger,and after this next meeting they will be even bigger.
    Simply showing films you say,no,the Old New Vic ODEON will be a live theatre,live music,live comedy,art house,coffee house,in fact a people of Preston’s village hall in the heart of Preston.
    Transport links to this venue,the new Bus Station is going to be built behind it is it not ?.
    As for the current owners of this building,they only want the night club,or the old stalls area of the theatre,it would be great for them to know that the upper part was being looked after,and with no empty rates to pay on their building,which are about to come in.
    So for about £450,000 for a long term lease,to keep Preston’s last art deco theatre / cinema alive, I think it is a small price to pay.
    Come and give us a shove some time,every little helps.
    Please do not put a downer on people who care about their their City and history, and get your facts right before posting an opinion.
    As for a reality check,done that, it will be saved.

  • MC1

    No – I’m not cynical. I’m realistic. I used to run a cinema at professional level so I know what needs to be considered on a realistic basis and at all levels of operation in order to make one work. I asked whether the meeting had been reconvened as it was suggested that on the Facebook group that it might be and wanted to know what the outcome was if indeed it had taken place.

    Yes – it’s important to get facts right and the fact is that asking pertinent and relevant questions on isues that would be fundamental to the sustainability of such a project does not equate to putting ‘a downer on people who care about their City’. My track record of professional and voluntary activity over the past decade in and around Preston demonstrates that I am willing to lend time and effort. In some ways and in certain capacities, I still do.

    I wasn’t aware that it had been confirmed that the bus station will definitely be built behind the cinema. I’m glad to hear that the project aim to offer a diversity of activities and not just show films as this, and presenting evidence that there is a demand for such diversity that would sustain the project as a commercial venture, would be key to securing funding via a verfified and fully costed business plan.

    No – I’m not like the many whose support for viable projects is limited to the verbal variety and I don’t think inferring as much in such a patronising manner simply because I’ve cited aspects of reality and asked pertinent questions is an ideal way of engaging my support. But the fact is that I’ve seen many projects touted over the years in this town and those that remain in a sustainable form are those that pre-planned in a professional and concise manner for every potential eventuality and, most importantly, secured funding via fully costed business plans to realise their ambitions. As we all know, ideas and plans are all very well but without the fundamental ability to finance them on a secure and ongoing basis they’re non-starters.

    I heard about your 8th April meeting at UCLan via the Facebbok group about a week ago. Since that time I’ve told most people I’ve met and spoken with about the meeting and project and encouraged them to attend. I won’t be in town on that day so unfortunately won’t be able to but I’ll look forward to hearing what the outcome is. Perhaps posting the business plan on the Facebook group would enable those who can’t attend the meeting to get a fuller and more coherent picture of the project, where it stands at present and how it will move forward?

  • D Taylor

    Sorry BC1, looking back on my comments I was more than a little harsh in my reply to your posting, but when you are trying to get a project off the ground, you tend to be on the defence of any criticism , so I do apologise to you if I came over a bit harsh in my reply about your comments.
    The last meeting attendance was around 35 people, 33 up from the last one so that was a big step in the right direction.
    It was decided at the meeting that a meeting will be held on a Thursday night in the 2nd week of every month at a venue to be confirmed on the Face book site.
    Friends of the Former Odeon New Vic group will be formed at the next meeting, and from this group trustees will be appointed to form a non for Profit Company.
    A Web site is in the process of being constructed, and also a business plan,this will be published on the new site as soon as possible.
    I do hope to see you at one of the meetings in the near future,and join us, because with your experience you do sound like a person that can help this project along to try and save and restore, Preston’s last traditional cinema.

  • http://www.circustraining.co.uk j barberel

    heard you on radio lancs are you looking to possibly use the odeon for live theatre as well ? this would make a great venue for all sorts of performing arts where up & coming young artist had the chance to showcase there talent
    if so it would be good to get Equity (artist union) involved and to support you
    they want to see theatres kept open

  • http://www.super8cynics.com Ady Hall

    My band Super 8 Cynics were lucky enough to shoot our very first music video in this old cinema last month. We all feel strongly that the building needs to be restored to its former glory. Preston needs this to happen. It is a very important part of it’s heritage.
Login with Facebook