Southend High Street old Odeon Theatre gutting in photos

It was May 1970 and workmen were busy gutting the historic theatre in order to turn it into two-screen cinema.

Changes - A look inside the large-scale project shows the theatre looking very different (Image: Newsquest)

The reconstruction project meant the two layers of ornate seating in the theatre would be separated into two different screens.

A cafe area on the ground level was converted into the smaller cinema, while the original stage and stalls area became a supermarket.

Surprises - An old poster is uncovered during the work (Image: Newsquest)

Although the cinema would reopen in November of 1970, the new surroundings were deemed rather bland and many thought the atmosphere of the golden age of the Odeon Theatre- where everyone from The Beatles to Louis Armstrong to Laurel and Hardy played, was lost for good.

Features - despite the renovation the building’s original arched windows remained (Image: Newsquest)

The building began life as the plush Astoria Cinema in 1935.

It had a 56 feet wide proscenium, a fully equipped 40 feet deep stage with 14 dressing rooms and a Compton organ. There was also a cafe and dance studio.

The exterior was finished in polished beige artificial stone with three large arched metal windows above the entrance.

Rubble - the renovation project took months and the new cinema would open in November of 1970 (Image: Newsquest)

In September 1939 the cinema was taken over by the Oscar Deutsch chain of Odeon Theatres Ltd and was renamed the Odeon the following year.

The 1940s to the late 1960s were the heyday for the venue with musical stars from across the globe coming to perform.

Gutted - there’s not a lot left of the original theatre as workmen clear it (Image: Newsquest)

However, by 1970, as these photos show, it was time for change again as the theatre side of things made way for more big screen blockbusters.

The venue closed for good in 1997 after another Odeon multiplex opened up at the top of the High Street.

Hard at work - a workman digs into floor (Image: Newsquest)

It was eventually demolished and a University of Essex campus building built on the site.

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Physical work - A workman puts his back into moving some rubble (Image: Newsquest) Stunning scene - This photo of workmen on the site looks almost cinematic (Image: Newsquest)