On the fringes of legality, urban exploration is an unusual hobby where people get into abandoned spaces and document them. Provided that the UrbExer doesn’t actually break into a premises, they are only committing the civil offence of Trespass for which the owner can sue but the Police cannot arrest. (There are a number of building types and locations where this doesn’t apply, of course, such as a nuclear power station).

UrbExers are drawn to large buildings like abandoned hospitals, factories - and theatres. Often the photos taken of a venue are the last ones ever likely to be seen before demolition or internal destruction beyond recognition.

The Society are grateful to the site www.exploremanchester.co.uk for giving us permission to publish a number of photographs taken of an incursion into the derelict Manchester Odeon, the original 2,920 seat Paramount Theatre of 1930. The CTA broke the story of how much of the decorative interior plasterwork had been stripped out (to minimise the risk of re-listing) and these photos collaborate this (but also show that much remains).

The photographers were not intimately acquainted with the building before their visit so have not always been in a position to clarify where the photos were taken inside. The commentary is therefore speculative based on the Webmaster’s intimate knowledge of the similar 1931 Paramount Newcastle.

The original building had three audience levels (two balconies) and over the last thirty years or so was progressively carved up into seven screens. Here are the details from Odeon Cinemas: From J. Arthur Rank to the Multiplex:

Opened 10 June 30. Architects: Sam Beverley & Frank Verity. 2,920 seats.
To Odeon 27 Nov 39. Re-named 8 April 40.
By 1966: 2,737 seats.
Closed 21 July 73.
Re-opened 25 Jan 74 - 1,030 (2: ex-stalls), 1: 629 ex-circle
10 June 79 - 3rd screen in mezzanine
1992 - ex-stalls (No 2) closed for tripling + on-stage & ex-restaurant screens:
So:
3 in former stalls - 326, 145, 142
1 in former circle - 629
1 in former mzzanine 211
1 on stage - 97
1 in former basement restaurant - 97

Closed 2 Sept 04.

Note that all photographs are taken using improvised lighting conditions and are presented in camera sequence order. Because there are a large number of photographs which would make the page slow to load, please click on the read the rest of this entry below to unfurl the posting.

We start in the main lobby, looking towards the street doors which are boarded up on the outside.

One of the two mini-cinemas constructed in the rear stalls area.

This is thought to be the larger screen in the front stalls area, seats mostly stripped out.

The other rear stalls mini-cinema, smaller than the one next door.

We now move on to the Boiler House. These modern gas fired systems replace a pair of large Lancashire Boilers that were originally coal fired and then converted to fuel oil.

A typical backstage corridor, this one probably underground.

Some curious structural steelwork in the basement. Note the concrete footer for the upright, the angled girders appear to be providing some form of lateral bracing.

We are now in the Plenum Chamber. A cast iron column in the foreground (or possibly a steam pipe), a belt driven impellor fan beyond. The safety guard would have been added at a later date. There are several photos taken in the Plenum area.

Photos looking up and down Oxford Street

There are a few more miscellaneous views at the end of the sequence, possibly from another camera:

A staff closing day behind the scenes “in joke”

There is one other image of the circle foyer, exposed to show the extent of the plasterwork stripout. It is credited “converse1″. Note that the lights are on in this photograph.

(Photos courtesy of http://www.exploremanchester.co.uk )