The Lewisham Odeon was a cinema and music venue located in Lewisham, London, England. During its nearly half a century open the changes in British popular music can be seen reflected in the acts to perform there, particularly in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s.
 | |
| Location | Loampit Vale, Lewisham, London, SE13 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Gaumont-British (1932 - 1941) Rank Organisation (1941 - 1981) |
| Capacity | 3050 |
| Opened | 1962 |
| Closed | 1981 |
History
editIt opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace with the films Westward Passage and The Midshipmaid. With 3,050 seats it was among the UK's largest cinemas.[1]
An article originally published in the Observer on 16 September 1956 quotes a soldier visiting the cinema to see Rock Around The Clock saying "You should have seen this place last night. Jiving on the stage they were, till the cops came." It goes on to mention a boy escorted out by police, also for jiving, and ending up in a "meat-wagon"[2]
In October 1959 a pre-fame Georgie Fame, then known as Clive Powell, auditioned for pop manager Larry Parnes at the theater during The Marty Wilde Show. He performed a cover of Jerry Lee Lewis' High School Confidential and was hired as a backing pianist for Parnes “stable” of singers.[3]
On Sunday, 1 May 1960, Gene Vincent re-started his U.K. tour at the Gaumont after the car crash on the 16th April following his Bristol concert, as reported by the New Musical Express, the following week. He sang, so that newspaper reported, Over the Rainbow.[4]
The building reopened in 1962 as the Lewisham Odeon after being closed for several months due to a fire. It nostalgically re-screened The Midshipmaid, and its first new showing was That Touch of Mink.
Over the years it hosted performances from artists such as David Bowie,[5] Queen,[6] Status Quo,[7] Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, The Hollies, The Beatles,[8] Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers,[9] The Supremes, Deep Purple,[10] Dire Straits,[11] Rod Stewart and The Faces,[12] The Clash,[13] Carl Perkins,[14] Wings,[15] Ian Dury,[16] The Specials, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure,[17] Emerson, Lake & Palmer,[18] Adam and The Ants,[19] Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas,[20] Thin Lizzy,[21] Tom Robinson Band,[22] Hawkwind,[23] T. Rex,[24] Gladys Knight and the Pips, Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Ruffin, Carol Woods,[25] Gerry and the Pacemakers[26] and The Who.[27]
On 27 May 1978 Black Sabbath headlined there on their Never Say Die tour, with support from Van Halen.[28][29]
In 1977, 1979, and 1980 Lewisham Council rejected applications from then owners of Odeon, Rank Leisure, to convert it into a bingo hall.[30] Rank closed the cinema and venue on 14 February 1981. The Stage reported at the time that the council had hoped to retain the cinema and its planning and development committee would be meeting to consider a plan submitted by Rank to convert it into "two smaller studio cinemas and a department store".[30] Its final concerts were two dates by The Who on 8 and 9 February.[31]
The building was demolished in 1991 for a road widening scheme.[4][32]
References
edit- ^ "The Lewisham Gaumont / Odeon Cinema | 47bus". 47bus.wordpress.com. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ Sampson, Anthony (16 September 1956). "Dig That Crazy Jive, Man!". The Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Gildart, K. (2013). Images of England Through Popular Music: Class, Youth and Rock 'n' Roll, 1955-1976. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137384256.
- ^ a b "Odeon Lewisham in London, GB". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ Griffin, Roger (2016). David Bowie: The Golden Years. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9781780380162.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: Queen Tour: Crazy Tour Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Thursday, 20 Dec 1979". 45worlds.
- ^ Welch, Chris (13 April 1968). "Gene Pitney, Amen Corner, Status Quo: Lewisham Odeon/Kinks, Tremeloes, Herd: Walthamstow Granada". Melody Maker.
- ^ Van Der Kiste, John (2016). A Beatles Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Beatles but Were Afraid to Ask. Fonthill Media. ISBN 9781781555828.
- ^ Leigh, Spencer (2023). Little Richard: Send Me Some Lovin'. McNidder & Grace. ISBN 978-0857162441.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2004). Smoke on the Water: The Deep Purple Story. ECW Press. ISBN 9781550226188.
- ^ Illsley, John (2021). My Life in Dire Straits: The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History. Transworld Digital. ISBN 9781473587946.
- ^ "The Faces - Rod Stewart of The Faces performing on stage at Lewisham Odeon, London, 18 November 1974. (Photo by Ian Dickson/Redferns)". Getty Images.
- ^ Parker, Alan (2003). The Clash: Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg. Abstract Sounds Publishing. ISBN 9780953572496.
- ^ "Carl Perkins performs on stage at Lewisham Odeon, London, 1978. (Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns)". Getty Images.
- ^ "Laurence Juber, Steve Holly, Denny Laine, Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney of Wings perform on stage at The Lewisham Odeon on December 3rd, 1979 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns)". Getty Images.
- ^ "Ian Dury performs at the Lewisham Odeon - LONDON: Ian Dury performs at the Lewisham Odeon in 1979 in London, England. (Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns)". Getty Images.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: Siouxsie And The Banshees Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Saturday, 13 Oct 1979". 45worlds.
- ^ "Lot 4078 Early Pink Floyd and other music programmes, Emerson Lake & Palmer programme from Lewisham Odeon 1971 signed by Keith Emerson and Greg Lake..." Ewbank's Auctions.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: Adam And The Ants Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Saturday, 29 Nov 1980". 45worlds.
- ^ Richardson, Clive (2012). Soul Citizen: Tales and Travels from the Dawn of the Soul Era to the Internet Age. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781291246735.
- ^ Putterford, Mark (2002). Phil Lynott: The Rocker. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780711991040.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: Tom Robinson Band Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Saturday, 7 Apr 1979". 45worlds.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: Hawkwind Title: A Christmas Spectacular Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Sunday, 19 Dec 1976". 45worlds.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: T. Rex Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Friday, 9 Jul 1971". 45worlds.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: Gladys Knight And The Pips Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Saturday, 11 Nov 1972". 45worlds.
- ^ "Live Music Artist: Gerry And The Pacemakers Venue: Lewisham Odeon City: London, England, UK Date: Friday, 4 Oct 1963". 45worlds.
- ^ Neill, Andy; Kent, Matt (2011). Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the Who 1958-1978. Virgin. ISBN 9780753547977.
- ^ "Black Sabbath Perform At Lewisham Odeon - Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs on stage during their 'Never Say Die!' tour at Lewisham Odeon, London, England, on May 27th, 1978. (Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns)". Getty Images.
- ^ "Van Halen At Lewisham Odeon - L-R Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen perform on stage at Lewisham Odeon, London, 27th May 1978. (Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns)". Getty Images.
- ^ a b "Light Entertainment News - Lewisham concert venue to close". The Stage. 27 November 1980. p. 3.
- ^ "Light Entertainment News - Rock fans support axed Odeon". The Stage. 18 December 1980. p. 5.
- ^ Allen, Carl (2016). London Gig Venues. Amberley. ISBN 978-1445658193.
51°27′50.18″N 0°0′43.63″W / 51.4639389°N 0.0121194°W
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