Inside the old Odeon cinema, Cambridge Street, Aylesbury

[DJSyKoh]

lol u remind me of an amateur porn director

[EmpireLS56KW]

I see dead pigeons LOL yeah I beenn In a few derelict cinemas where I saw hundreds of these grimy birds everywhere.

[qasim140]

is it still there, where is it btw?

[SimplyPaul]

@qasim140 Yes it is, on Cambridge Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

[qasim140]

@SimplyPaul Really? i cant seem to find it anywhere down that road?

[SimplyPaul]

@qasim140 It's the large building which looks like a disused cinema... :)

It's in the town centre, boxed-in my Sainsbury's car park and next to a small roundabout.

[SimplyPaul]

@SimplyPaul It's the large building that looks like a disused cinema... :)

It's in the town centre, bordered by Sainsbury's car park, close to a roundabout.

[gregorbos]

Fascinating. I always wonder what an old, abandoned theater must be like on the inside. A filthy mess, apparently. Thanks for the adventure.

[caldude1997]

this is shit

[SimplyPaul]

@caldude1997 Where can I send your refund?

[caldude1997]

@SimplyPaul TO MY ASS FAGGOT

[SimplyPaul]

@caldude1997 Oh good. An American. Ok, well love to your Equus africanus asinus and it's odd you named your donkey after a bundle of small sticks or twigs, but I guess you do things differently there. Like typing with the caps-lock on. If 1997 is your year of birth you really should try growing up a bit. Girls really like maturity around your age. For its novelty value.

[Bignadim]

Bastards wrecked the projector at 7.34 Fucking chavs would do that at home to their parents flat screeen TV .... push it over so it breaks but some-other chav did that to their home they would care anyway

[SOUNDsculptures]

I'm surprised you didn't find squatters. Great adventure though, and thank you for posting this. It is a crying shame what has happened to the old cinemas in this country.

[ryukinr]

I watched this video for the first time a year or so ago, but I just had a craving to watch it again. I work in an office just around the corner from this cinema and I drive past it every day. I always wanted to know what it looked like inside! Thanks very much. It's amazing how much is still in the building so many years later. Thanks for posting.

[NewEraBoy11]

Freaky that people use to go there on regular occasions and now it's just... Empty.

[jmosthaunted]

Thanks so much for posting this. Ive wanted to see the inside ever since they shut it. Brings back memories of when i used to come as a kid. I remember i always wanted to go to the upstairs screen!

[seemylive]

It makes me sad to see cinemas like this.

[Blueone3452123]

It's still there

[ButterflyRebellion1]

Not a patch on Bradford's Odeon

[B3NN10N]

Would be interesting to know what was on the 35mm, Thanks guys!

[andydais]

the only proper screen was the one at 10 . 20

[dplomin1954]

Nice video guys! Wish I had a camcorder back in 1989 when me and my friends explored the Granada Theater in Chicago before it was demolished. A HUGE 1926 movie palace that was still intact, but Loyola University wanted the land for other purposes. A shame. Could have been creative and found a way to keep it and incorporate it into the campus, but I feel that they were uncaring and lazy about the beautiful landmark in their midst!

[dollyknockers]

06.18 really isn't a very big screen....it really isn't a screen anymore! Great video though. Gives me the chance to experience urbex vicariously. Thank you

[semajttam]

Careful mate, there were rats behind Look-In when I went to find a stand we needed!

[SimplyPaul]

Rats as big as horses. I've heard the old stories... ;) No plans to go back but thanks for the warning anyway.

[fimballs]

love this sort of thing thanks 4 doing this short film. love to see others like this>

[andydais]

No But Sainsburys I Think Moved In Here

[andydais]

This odeon moved near the town centre in 1999

[swisstony123]

Have they knocked it down yet?

[Thereaper123666]

wow it looks alot smaller compared to wen i went there as ac child, im so gona break into there

[theprodigyfan]

If you're going in for fuck sake don't break in and trash the place!

Oh and by the way SP: DON'T POST ACCESS FOOTAGE - THE COUNCIL/OWNERS/POLICE WILL SEE THIS AND SEAL THE EXIT!

[proscreens]

nice video . i work at this odeon as a projectionist . it had vic5 projector also the projection room roof had a leak . loved it .

[missjennamh]

hannah wat part did u have sex in ?

[ILoveallthegirls1]

@missjennamh LOL i know who this is about :L

[ravenguest]

I think it's so sad seeing it in that state, I used to go there as a kid (I;m 26 now)

[TheJedditytv]

I'm looking for some abandoned buildings in the vicinity of ayelsbury/ wendover.

any suggestions apart from the maxwell, old odeon and that underground bunker?

[liamwindeatt]

is there anyway to get into that underground bunker?

[LegoFreakFarter]

What underground bunker?

[Londonguy028]

Interesting Video, yeah I always have wandered what it would be like inside too, so thanks for video!...read on internet that the Odean in Aylesbury closed on 30th October 1999.

[Marleyboybob]

Nice one, Thanks alot for that tour...

Would you reccomend us to pay a visit some time aswell or are there too many chavs and thugs hidden in the dark corners over there?!!

[Pyroman1990]

Theres no one living in there mate

[antinowherepunk]

When he says hes in the big screen hes not thats one of the small ones!!

[moviemagicusa12]

bravo bravo good show more more

[GKSIMPLEX]

Fantastic video and good job !

[SirSpunkworthy]

There's an old mill along the canal (Park Street). You can't access it through Osier Way, so the only way to get there is to climb around the fence by the canal. It's very dirty in there... lots of pigeon shit. Nice for a bit of urban spelunking though, as you acually have to climb through holes in floorboards to access the top floor of the mill. Beware of asbestos.

[Benjy5997]

Im 21 now and spent a lot of time growing up in Aylesbury and i rember seeing films there so it was at least late 90's by the time it closed as the last thing i rember seeing there was 'Bean, the movie', could it of closed round abit the time the mulitiplexopened? This video is fantastic, the amount of times ive walked by it and woundered what would it look like in there. Many thanks for the post

[Clivef213]

Does Aylesbury have a cinema now? This one looks like the same in St. Albans. Which now has Closed it was closed in 1995 and the last film played in St. Albans was Waterworld with Kevin Costner. Nice to see inside now though.

[SimplyPaul]

Yes it does, on the site of the old cattle market below the Civic Centre and next to the old swimming pool.

[Clivef213]

is it bigger than the old cinema or the same size

[SimplyPaul]

Much bigger; six proper-sized (ish) screens.

[Clivef213]

cool, the one in Hatfield has around 9 screens and the one in hemel hempstead has around 6 or 7 screens and of course the one in St. Albans has No screen as it is a complete eyesore. and have always wondered what it was like inside ;)

[mentalboyanil]

haha, me and my mates went in there a few months ago. went to the highest point of the building and.....THERE WAS PIGEON CRAP EVERYWHERE. xD. Unfortunately someone lit a fire in there, the cops came and now no-one can get in.

[calco150]

u can just make out the odean sign where it was now!!

[calco150]

there is a tunnel under the civic centre i hear as well..

[videomaster54321]

Yes, there are abandoned tunnels that run all around Aylesbury Town Centre.

[timyp86]

i remeber the front foyer and the stairs to the upper seating. i use to watch many

80s films here such as Roger Rabbit, Ghostbusters & Honey i shrunk the kids good memories but they should tear it dow by now

[videomaster54321]

There is an entrance to the tunnels in the basement of the Camping shop opposite the King's head on Market Square.

[61mitcham]

Always hoped that it would be used as a art gallery. Sad to see the deterioration of something that brought back so many memories

[Volfmech]

Im rember going there to see Tenage Mutant Ninja Turtals there... Man that was a very long time ago!

[SimplyPaul]

I've had a look at the tunnel which runs from Blacks' basement. I may approach them about letting me explore it properly.

[kat80808]

I'm 19 now and i remember going in there when i was younger. On saturday mornings they used to do cartoons for

50p. It was the 50p cinema! Miss that place.

[fullmonty71]

I so wanted to go in there but none of my mates wanted to. Now I don't have to.

I so much prefered this cinema to the new one as it had a lot of character, My dad took me to see the first ''Superman''there & it seemed so huge then.

The last film I saw was with my mates, ''Analyze this'' just before it shut.

Real shame its gone, same for the pool!

Thanks a million, priceless

[bestiaccia]

You're on Bucks Advertiser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[leeadamkindell]

that was amazing to see quite sad. i remeber seeing jaws, star wars all the classics first time around in the 70/80s i remember there being a horrible little man with glasses there as a manager who turned me away from a 12 rated film in the early 80s all my friends got in and my nan had to come get me...i was near to tears ahhhh memories ha ha

[LoopyPC]

Did you break in i wonder?

[SimplyPaul]

Certainly not! The rear door was found as you see it on the video; unlocked and propped open. I would never break into a building as that would be breaking and entering, which is obviously illegal.

[SimplyPaul]

Passing the cinema today I see it's been made far harder (impossible?) to get in - or rather, get out of. I don't suggest anyone tries to follow in my footsteps. Just sit back and enjoy this video.

[SteveEdwardsUK]

I used to work part time as a cleaner in that cinema.  I got to see a fair bit of the place. This brings back some nostalgic memories.

[blazinbadboy]

I have been in this old cienma with my brothers & there are lots of birds & baby ones to & was there really a fire in the old cienma.

[Zealey]

Great stuff, superb vid. Amazed all that stuff is still in there. What a waste of a great space. Could be filled with live music or something.

[timyp86]

that would of been a good idea

[HPALIHP]

Awesome video...I love old cinema buildings

[SimplyPaul]

Fans of this film may also enjoy 'The Reg Maxwell Pool Experience' videos I'm currently uploading to YouTube. I know I've had a lot of emails demanding I post it here, so... Happy now?! :D

[masterl2006]

i went in dere last year and we found acid on a table in the projector room and it smshed and corrodded the walls away

[purplehev]

wow I never thought the things would still be in there. I remember going there so man times and still drive past it on way to family who live round the corner. Thanks for posting this it is a shame an old building with so much history has to end up like this. is there nothing anyone can do with it?

[geordieboydave]

people go on dates to the cinema

[mickosabian]

I went to see Dick Tracey there when i was a kid!

[shabba69]

Iv'ee been in there recently. Very eery but fascinating. I remember there being two video games at the bottom of the staricase in the main foyer. They were awesome. lol. All we could find that was cool was a poster for the launch of rountrees fruit pastil lollies. lol. All thats left is hanging cables, broken toilets all over the floor and water seeping through the roof. but still friggin awesome!

[brmanuk]

facinating stuff. there was a beautiful odeon in newcastle that was shut down in 2002 and ive always wanted to go inside and have a snoop around.

[Bif4gooner]

Great film - i remember going to 'Quadrophenia' when i was only 12 & getting in!!! great memories of when i was a kid. Thanks for shareing it.

[DreamChaser2005]

I couldn't see this but did see Then and Now. OMG! It's quite sad really but great for the memories. I will share this about as my friend trained there as a projectionist and is now at the new one in town. Thanks guys.

[itwerki]

gf odeon i had many hours fun in there :) big up solo kiza zane hope, youdunknow, ooooh we was first in there so gfgfgf,paul bolt croppers ftw! (Y)

[doctorwho3]

Difficult to imagine how grand these buildings once were. Fantastic film, Thank you for sharing.

[wholeorange25]

i remember when bugs life came out and there was a massive picture of flick on the floor next to the staircase

[Jazbagz]

Yes! That's what I remember the most since it was the first film my dad took me to. (obv I'd been before with other people)

[footymadlaura89]

awsome video.brings back memories from going there on saturday mornings for a quid.the new cinema'll never replace the memories of this one.

can you upload the maxwell swimming pool video you've got.would be kool to see that one aswell

[strikerno07]

Thanks for re-posting, I had no trouble watching the other link. Good tour of the old odeon that we all loved. Nice one!

[fierceenglish]

AAAAAH! I cant watch it either don't know if its because I'm in a different country or anything, its alright though mate showed it me through web cam chat! :) That bought back some memory's! I stole sweets when i was a kid from the shop...

[DreamChaser2005]

Are you going to post it again? I am also desperate to see it.

[friscfra]

im dying to watch this video but its now saying that its unavailable!!

[delbydoo]

Brilliant video guys, thank you for posting it; it brings back many memories for me as I started there as a dorrman back in 1989 - it was the last week of Rainman! I can't believe that the clocks in the old screen one are still there(behind all the facias - you see them on both sides of the auditorium above the exit doors) and i bet the hands are missing! but I do agree that it should be knocked down and left as good memories in the minds of the people who knew it best

[dollyrocket2]

Its a shame to see it like that as an ex-projectionist. The downstairs screens had mirror projections.

[masterl2006]

yh i think its a tag

[masterl2006]

plz tell me wat u were shockied wat u found was it a body?

[paulhegsydney]

I went there as a kid back in the 80s the Odeon is a good portrayel of Aylesbury i think ( A shit hole )

[kaufman22]

i think you are going to have to re put this video on youtube

[rbainbri]

This just keeps coming up as no longer available - would love to see it!

[SimplyPaul]

Still fine for me. Try emptying your temp web files folder and reboot?

[kaufman22]

It is doing it for me as well and also someone else i know , How the hell did you get in there , Were you scared it looks like it could be an excellent haunted house ride !!

[kaufman22]

Good video i remember the que for Batman in 1989 and also going to See batman returns and DLT being in there.

[brendancarr]

Wicked video, i remember going to see many movies there a kid through to teenager, first film i ever watched there was Ghost Busters 2 and the last film i ever watched there in the top screen was Mortal Kombat. Such amazing memories,i remember the little old lady who used to work in the box office lived around the corner from me in bedgrove she retired when it shut down and didnt move onto new odeon. I remember having much fun on the back row of seats in the dark with a few girls as well LOL.

[SimplyPaul]

I took a girl to see Ghostbusters 2. Worst. Film. Ever. Also a dreadful date! Yeah, memories are great, but The Point pretty much killed places like this.

[Joey087]

asif its the worst film but one of the most best films ever ! any chance of reuploading this vid or seding me!

[delbydoo]

I was the assistant manager at the time, and the "little old lady" you refer to is Rita, who was there since the year dot.....

[Maxopo]

i fucking hated that old lady, she didnt let me into austin powers wen i was young

[Joey087]

keep getting "We're sorry, this video is no longer available

I really want to see this.

[SimplyPaul]

I promise it's live- I'm watching it right now...

[benicus18]

my dad used to work there!!!

wow its really trashed

[a1m2x5]

keep getting "We're sorry, this video is no longer available."

[bestiaccia]

Brave men!

[beanthead]

I remember going there when I was a kid...Been there more recently, its tagged to fuck these days....im surprised no one has nicked the projectors etc...

Watch out for crackhead andy kotchin in the corner....

[a1m2x5]

they left the projectors!!?? what else have they left??

[masterl2006]

who is andy kotchin

[timyp86]

the prodjectors should of been stored in a museum or somewhere, not left for pegions to shit all over them. now its not worth as much as it would of if stored correctly

[SimplyPaul]

What did you find? :)

[masterl2006]

does any 1 no if dat safe has been broken in to

[masterl2006]

no it aint

[stevohorn]

I also used to attend Saturday morning pictures here..

All i can remember is the "Banana Splits" for some reason.

oh, and standing for the national anthem..cant imagine that these days!

[manniemain]

Did this place once have an organ? Those look like organ chamber grills at the beginning.

[SimplyPaul]

No sign of an organ, but there is an orchestra pit. I think the big box behind the remains of the screen was the mono speaker from the 30s but I'll have to take your word about what the grills around the 'stage' are.

[manniemain]

I've done a bit of research. Apparently there was never an organ in this theatre so those grills would just be imitation organ grills and would have been part of a ventilation system if anything at all. Very few original Odeons(as opposed to ex Paramounts, Gaumonts or independents actually had organs. The exception to this is Leicester Square (still played) and one or two others. I think those big speakers behind the screen would have been part of the sound system right to the end.

[manniemain]

Back in the 70s and 80s most towns had an Odeon and an ABC (or

Cannon/MGM Classic) multiplex which was generally a rather cheesey convert from a 30s super cinema. I suppose it was inevitable that they would ultimately invest in purpose built multiplexes but its sad to see these magnificent theatres go - even if they had been tastelessly converted in the late 60s early 70s.

[Pyroman1990]

the video keeps messing up

[Alistairparkhurst]

Fascinating, though sad to see it in disrepair. I think it closed around 1999/2000. It was definitely still open in 1998. I am something of an aspiring film maker myself now, and would love to use it as a location - trashy horror movie maybe? Good stuff lads.

[SimplyPaul]

There's certainly a place for independent cinemas, showing niche movies not covered by multiplex screens. I'm not sure Aylesbury in the place for one though. As you say, change happens, which when you look at the beautiful interior the Odeon had in its 30s and 40s heyday seems like a shame.

[lacky1180]

very very sad to see it in such a state, i worked at the cinema for many years and trained to be a projectionist there with vern ( which i continue today part time at the new odeon.)Many thanks for the video and commentary, i would love to know where you got the stills from if possible as i have searched for old pictures myself. Great video and very respectful.

[blazinbadboy]

Exellent video m8 10/10.

[robg300b]

very good video commentary needs improving lol. i swore i saw a few orbs whizzing about lol. most haunted watch out

[hartnell114]

wow thatd be so awesome, and a little scary, to walk around in there! its a shame about those pigeons otherwise you could have 'borrowed' a few things and sold them on, its a shame people have to go in and smash things and spray over them :\

[SimplyPaul]

Borrowing and selling them on is theft. Theft is illegal and morally wrong. I don't recommend it, but I do agree smashing and spraying is also a no-no. Don't do it kids!

[lukeosborne]

Brilliant vid, always wondered what its like in their and now i know, such a great cinema in its day. I agree with adimond88 do the old pool near the civic next plz. 5 STAR

[adimond88]

Great video i'd be really interested to see the video of the old pool aswell cheers

[karlb1]

Is it still there or did they build over it? i can't remember exactly where it was...

[SimonB198207]

COOL! was that legal? (i'm guessing by the illicit entry it wasn't)

it's like every school kids dream to enter long abandoned buildings and find the treasures within.... shame you didn't come across a long forgotten stash of Opal Fruits in the lobby...

[SimplyPaul]

Technically it's trespass I think, but as we did no damage and were there to document the building before it's torn down (which could be soon) it's a misdemeanour rather than a crime. We passed no 'Keep Out' signs... I would caution anyone else from doing anything similar though, as the structure of many abandoned buildings is past its prime and old structures can collapse.

Glad you enjoyed it. I'll have to upload the video I have of the closed swimming pool in Aylesbury some time :)

[SimonB198207]

look forward to it. thank YOU.

[karlb1]

Why did they close it anyways?

[SimplyPaul]

It had become a bit of a flea-pit, I'm sorry to say, and a new Odeon was opened 5 minutes across town on Exchange Street. It had to happen really as people were going to High Wycombe, Milton Keynes and Hemel Hempsted's multiplex cinemas rather than the old Aylesbury one.

[karlb1]

Oh right, there's loads of storys going around that it had to close because people were stabbed there andhtey hid the bodies or something, i didn't beleive it but i didn't know the real reason. Do you have any videos of the old Maxwell swimming pool or whatever it was called? i'd love to see that... i can't even remmeber where it is.. did they demolish it?

[SimplyPaul]

Stabbing? Sounds like an ubran legend to me. As far as I know there was no problem of that sort there. I do have video of the Maxwell pool which will need to be edited when I'm not so busy. It's still standing, next to the new Odeon on Exchange Street.

[karlb1]

Yeah that's what i thought, apparently it's owned by the supermarket next to it but htey haven't got planning permission to develop on the land or something like that.

Do you recon you could send me the Maxwell pool vid over email or msn or something like that before you edit it or anything? i'm really interested in seeing what it's like in there now, i used to go there all the time.

Oh is it that bulky grey stone building? I always wondered if that was it...