Odeon Cinema, High Street, Sittingbourne, Kent
Originally designed for the Abrahams chain, the cinema opened as an Odeon in 1937. Renamed the Vogue Cinema in the 1960s, it later became a bingo hall. In the 1970s, it hosted additional screens, and ownership changed several times before closing as New Century Cinema in December 2022. The Odeon cinema company was founded in 1930 by Oscar Deutsch. During the 1930s, it grew to become one of the country’s major chains of cinemas. The first five Odeon cinemas opened in 1933, and by 1936 there were 142 across the country. Although each Odeon was unique, the use of a set range of architectural features meant that most of the cinemas were instantly recognisable as an 'Odeon', with their distinctive Modernist style. The slogan, ‘Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation’ (ODEON) was also synonymous with the brand.
