I believe this place is still running as mecca bingo hall? Has anyone seen inside it recently as I did hear a few years back all the original interior was intact, with original seats, curtains, lighting, etc....just wondered if any bingo fans had been inside recently....its one of the few surviving cinema buildings in the City still in use as a bingo hall, which was the fate of a lot of cinemas in the 1960's.....in fact I believe the Flat Street odeon has been a bingo hall ever since closure in 1971 after its final film, Carry on up the Khyber!!

This was one huge cinema, one of the biggest in Sheffield, so I imagine it attracts huge numbers of Bingo fans? I would love to know what features still remain on the inside....dont play bingo however....

Saw sounda music there wayback but I've not bin inside since, Sorry?

Originally posted by Trekker
Saw sounda music there wayback but I've not bin inside since, Sorry?

Sheffields longest running film ever was SOUND OF MUSIC....it ran for two and half years without a break at the Flat Street Odeon from 65 to 67.......that is quite terrifying!!

My aunt was an usherette there, before it became a bingo hall.

I remember meeting her after work, with my mum, when I was a little girl.

I seem to remember someone mentioning, somewhere (I think it was in a "historic sheffield" book i read) that it was the shortest-lived lifespan of a cinema anywhere, before its use was changed to a bingo hall. IIRC, it wasn't open as long as 10/15 yrs as a cinema.

PT

I seem to remember someone mentioning, somewhere (I think it was in a "historic sheffield" book i read) that it was the shortest-lived lifespan of a cinema anywhere, before its use was changed to a bingo hall. IIRC, it wasn't open as long as 10/15 yrs as a cinema.

PT [/B]

Yes it opened in 1956 and closed in 71, so pretty short life. Building looks in fair condition though. Just actually watched the last film it ever showed, Carry on up the Khyber, on a cinema screen for the first time. Quite an exit!! The "I'm backing Britain" shot of the flag over THE END titles.....slightly ironic in a way as.....no more films being shown there since that final scene.....

I remember going to the Odeon on Sundays in the late 50s, before that you could not do anything on Sundays but go to church cos nothing was opened. We used to queue down the side St and along would come a little man witha banner saying "The Wages of Sin are Death"

Hazel

I was inside the old Odeon two years ago. Believe me there is absolutely nothing left to show it had once been the most lavish cinema in the Sheffield area. Even the circle has been covered in in a way that looks as if there never was a circle at all, and we all know it was HUGE up there. The entire cinema effect has gone. It was a beautiful cinema, as I am sure all of us who remember it agree.

my mum started work there when it first opened she was the lady with the tray she ended up being head sales lady and usherettei can rememeber when the film can can was on she dressed me up as a can can lady and they had me stood inthe foyer i was about eight at the time. when they decided to turn it into a bingo hall she was transferred to its sister cinema the gaumont in barkers pool where she worked untill she retired

Sheffields longest running film ever was SOUND OF MUSIC....it ran for two and half years without a break at the Flat Street Odeon from 65 to 67.......that is quite terrifying!!

Actually it ran for 18months I was a projectionist there during the run, with Mike wells Chief /Chris Barlow Co Chief / Roy Booth 2nd and me Ron Wilkey .
923 performances 20 pairs of white cotton gloves each and various other stats. Same copy of 11 reels we took our copy to Majestic Leeds for them to knack it up in a couple of weeks. Had write up with stats in Star of period.those were the days lots of tales to tell..................stand by.... over