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Last picture show as town cinema closes doors
MORE than seven decades of cinema history came to an end in Doncaster yesterday when the Odeon cinema closed its doors for the final time.
The art deco building, which has been in operation as a cinema since 1934, has been on the market since November when the cinema chain decided it was no longer economically viable.
It has been bought for an undisclosed sum by developer Lazarus Properties, which says it doesn't yet know what it will do with the building but, at present, has no plans to demolish it.
For many the Odeon is more than just a cinema.
As well as showing films, the building, formerly the Gaumont, played host to musical acts including The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Bill Haley, the Everly Brothers and The Rolling Stones.
Lonnie Donegan's hit single My Old Man's a Dustman was also recorded there in February 1960.
Although the Odeon is one of only two art deco buildings in Doncaster town centre, it is not listed and is therefore not protected from demolition under planning laws.
Ray Nortrop, of the Friends of Doncaster Odeon, is currently fighting to get the Odeon listed building status.
He said he had fond memories of the building over the years.
He said: "I started going to the Gaumont in the 1950s when I was a child, to the junior matinee sessions.
"When I was a little bit older my father would take me to the one-night stands to see people like Bill Haley and Buddy Holly.
"As a teenager, when I was old enough to go on my own, I remember going to see Lonnie Donegan in 1960 and then, in 1962, the American acts like Little Richard and Sam Cook.
"At that time the Gaumont was a 2,020 seater theatre and Doncaster was absolutely humming."
Mr Nortop added that the Odeon's ability to attract a large crowd didn't diminish for some time and, in 1990, it attracted sell-out crowds to see the Bolshoi Ballet.
He said: "I fear that Doncaster is going to suffer greatly by having no cinema in town.
"It's shunting trade, once again, from Doncaster to Sheffield."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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