ODEON CINEMAS

BIRMINGHAM

Odeon Cinema's were created in 1928 by Birmingham born Oscar Deutsch, whose Hungarian father was an immigrant who started a steel business in Birmingham (later Deutsch & Bremner.)

In 1921, however, things had not going well for Deutsch and his two partners - Victor Saville, and Michael Balcon there film distribution company, Victory Films had run out of money but with the last of the money they all decided to dine out and place a £40 bet on four football matches. the bet came in and they were back in business.

Saville, Balcon and Deutsch were very important for the film industry at the time and the extra cash they got from that bet was the springboard for them to transform the industry," explains Birmingham based film producer, Roger Shannon. (source BBC)

Victor Saville's parents were Polish immigrants and his first home overlooked Cannon Hill park. While Michael Balcon was brought up were Spaghetti Junction now stands. (source BBC)

Their careers took off when they started to produce their own movies, with the glamorous silent movie, Woman to Woman, being the pinnacle of their combined achievements.

But like all good thing, their collaboration came to an end, but that is by no means the end of the story.

Oscar Deutsch went on to create one of the most famous cinema chains in history - The Odeon. With its lavish art deco designs, the Odeon was a touch of luxury for all.

"The idea was to give working class people a chance to have a warm place to go with some nice decor... The Odeons were outstanding, explains Oscar's son Ronnie"

Gainsborough Studio

Balcon and Saville created a new studio called Gainsborough. Here they took on a promising apprentice by the name of Alfred Hitcock.

Through Saville and Balcon, Hitchcock directed his first movie, The Lodger.

Silver screen

Victor Saville's career took him to America and Oscar winning films like 'Goodbye Mr Chips'.

Michael Balcon remained in Britain and bought the legendary Ealing Studios. There he nurtured some astonishing talent, like Richard Attenborough.

The end

Michael Balcon died in 1977. By then he’d been knighted. On Victor Saville’s death two years later, Hitchcock said "He was my last friend and my best friend". Oscar Deutsch died of Cancer, still a young man in 1941. In his short life he had transformed our experience of cinema.

Without the vision, drive and talent of these three brummies the British cinema industry could simply have flickered, failed and slipped into darkness …

Odeon publicists claimed that the name of the cinemas was derived from  "Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation", but this is not the case. An Odeon was a Greek amphitheatre.

The Odeon company is most famously associated with J Arthur Rank, the owner for the longest period in its history.

The first Odeon cinema opened in Briefly Hill in the Black Country in 1928. The building has long since been demolished.

In building his chain of Odeon's which he called, his 'palaces for the people' he is said that it was because he wanted to repay the country that gave him and countless others protection during the era of Fascism and also to provide luxurious surroundings with good entertainment for working people.

The Odeon's quickly became known for their opulent art deco style both inside and outside. This style was first used in 1935 on the cinema at Kingstanding, which was bought by Deutsch as the chain expanded. He liked the style so much that he commissioned the Birmingham architect responsible, Harry Weedon, to design most of his future cinemas.

The interiors were designed by Oscar's wife, Lily. During the 10 years that Deutsch had been setting up his chain he knew he was dying of stomach cancer and he sold his chain to J Arthur Rank before his death in 1941 after he had branded 258 cinemas, ODEON! In 1948 was merged with Gaumont Cinemas.

The Odeon brand name has always represented quality and has been retained to this day.

Whenever a British film was shown, the Union Jack would be flown from the flagpole at the top of the cinema

F

The flagship cinema, The Odeon Leicester Square, is the largest cinema in Great Britain and host to most of London's West End film premieres, retaining its large screen and circle & stalls layout.

The Odeon in Sutton Coldfield is a listed building.

The Deutch's lived in a large house in Augustus Road and had 13 acres of land from which they farmed from. During the war they had 4 gardeners and a land girl working the land. Today around 30 houses are built on the plot. They also owned the house next door.

If you were connected in any way with the early Odeon's please contact us--address on the home page.