Odeon Cinema, Market Street, Chorley, Lancashire
Built in 1938 for Odeon, the cinema closed in 1971 and became a bingo hall, later named Buzz Bingo. It closed in 2020 due to Covid and was demolished in 2021. The site is now a car park (2025). 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.
