GALLERY - December 2004

Bradford's New Victoria/Gaumont/Odeon
By Colin Sutton (Bradford & Shipley Cinemas Historian)

What is to be the fate of this landmark building? The truth is that nobody knows at this (end Nov 2004) time. After lying disused for just over four years it was looking very shabby externally.

This once magnificent 3,300+ seater theatre/cinema, ballroom, restaurant and tea room caf‚ was opened in 1930 as the New Victoria and one of the first purpose-built 'talkie' cinemas with spectacular stage shows, films and Wurlitzer organ. It was the largest and the showpiece of the PCT circuit.

After twinning as the Odeon in 1969 plus Yorkshire's largest bingo operation in the former stalls, a third screen was added in 1988. It fell dark in July 2000 with the opening of Odeon's out-of-town 13-screen multiplex.

The colossal building was sold for demolition but the developers withdrew their proposal and the building sold again at auction for almost œ2 million.

My photographs taken in autumn 2004 show the twin-domed towers of the former New Victoria next to and complimenting the domed Alhambra Theatre. The site in Prince's Way is considered a prime development area and highly controversial proposals have been put before the people of Bradford. This has resulted in a mass of letters to the local newspaper and a 4,000+ name petition to save the building.

Other photos show the huge stage and its flytower and dressing rooms plus two flats incorporated into the building at each side of the auditorium. Recently complaints were made about the building becoming shabby and the graffiti on the faience tiling. Scaffolding was erected for a 'budget' clean-up of the towers and faience exterior now proceeding with pleasing results but still with the threat of demolition.

Some of the statistics of this great cathedral of entertainment and its brief history have been written for Mercia Bioscope with a follow-up planned to detail ideas to save the building and proposed new uses. I have also written a website history of the New Victoria with more photographs now online at www.kingsdr.demon.co.uk/cinemas/newvic.htm where Wurlitzer enthusiasts will also find plenty of info.

Currently there is an agreed embargo on discussions now taking place with the owners of the building but soon I will be able to give you an update. Watch this space, as they say!

colin@kingsdr.demon.co.uk