Art Deco Cinema,Todmorden

Posted by
Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 28 May 2010 in Architecture and Portfolio.

This is the abandoned art deco style "New Olympia" Cinema on Burnley Road in Todmorden, Yorkshire.

When I was a kid every town in the UK seemed to have it's own art deco style cinema but unfortunately they weren't big enough to be able to compete with modern 'out of town' multiplex cinemas and so most have closed like the one pictured or were converted into Bingo halls.

It's such a shame as the interiors of these 1930s era cinemas were often real works of art and craftmanship using the best materials.

NIKON D700 1/1000 second F/5.6 ISO 200 10 mm (35mm equiv.)

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Comments (8)

Albert Manso from barcelona, Spain

Beautiful capture! Spectacular architecture!

28 May 2010 6:59am

@Albert Manso: Thanks Albert!

Céline from Paris, France

Great shot, dont know why, but I really like the lines on the road and the little silhouette, who gives something more to the picture. Well captured :)

28 May 2010 7:59am

@Céline: Thanks Céline....it was a deliberate decison to include the road markings like that so I'm glad you think, like me, that they add something to the photo.

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

Great capture of this wonderful building. Shame that it's not put under protection, the exposure to architecture of the 1920s and -30s is a sad subject (which is also true for buildings of the 50s and 60s). Apart from that, this is another sad example for the death of several cinemas in favour of the multiplexes.

28 May 2010 11:54am

@MadScientist: I was thinking of you and your wonderful architectural photos when I decided to post this particular photo today!....I don't know about Germany but here in the UK there must be hundreds of abandoned 1930s art deco style cinemas like this one.

Betsy Barron from Philadelphia, PA, United States

I agree w/ Celine, the lines in the road, juxtaposed with the lines of the buildings make this image so much more powerful!

28 May 2010 12:35pm

@Betsy Barron: Thanks Betsy!

Mags from Paris, France

I really love the processing here, well done!

29 May 2010 8:41am

Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada

I am another fan of that fine processing but starts with an excellent shot. Having the person really makes it interesting.

30 May 2010 5:10am

Daryl Johnson from Farnham, United Kingdom

Great architecture - yes; it's sad to see this kinds of places have no use any more...

30 May 2010 6:15pm

Foto-aksent from Binkom, Belgium

Well done! Great processing and excellent compo!

31 May 2010 7:09am

next day →

NIKON D700
1/1000 second
F/5.6
ISO 200
10 mm (35mm equiv.)

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