USER: In 1999, with the threat of the new Virgin/UGC (now Cineworld) eighteen screen megaplex opening up the road, Odeon embarked on what was to prove a final refurbishment, inserting three more screens in the rear half of the 1970s screen 1. This brought the total screens to 9, but thankfully also saw the removal of the 1970s readograph and corrugated iron and the exterior restored to something approaching its former glory. The new blue neon scheme, while less complex than the original, was still quite stunning at night and an excellent advert for the building. Despite strong competition, both from Odeon's own twelve screen at the Glasgow Quay and the UGC in Renfrew Street, the Renfield Street remained both profitable and popular to the end. This came eventually when Odeon sold the building " and its Edinburgh equivalent " to a development company who leased it back, allowing the cinema to continue while they finalised their plans for the site. Shortly after the sale of the cinema in 2003, it emerged that the Glasgow site was protected only by virtue of the City Centre Conservation Area. Historic Scotland swiftly moved to B-list the building on the merits of its landmark corner faASSade - despite there being almost no original historic fabric left inside. The first redevelopment plans for this cinema thus entailed only the removal of the interior elements, with retail and leisure units being slotted into the existing structure, and a glass rooftop extension perched above. Later, these were revised to remove the rooftop extension, but neither plan saw the light of day. On January 7th 2006, the cinema closed for the final time, The final message on the readograph said Thank You and Goodnight. On the boards where movie posters once were, there is now a pink poster saying "We are now closed, Your nearest Odeon is at Springfield Quay, Thank you for your loyal patronage" before listing directions to the Quay. A last look round the building in January 2006, shortly after closure saw the Grand Old Lady of Glasgow Cinema in a very sorry state: Screens had been simply slashed to get access to speakers behind them, seats were piled up ready to be taken away, and the halls felt empty, echoey and dark. This last visit also gave an opportunity to explore behind the scenes and see some of the hidden corners where original features still survive intact " some decorative flourishes on the tops of pillars hidden above suspended ceilings, much of the roof and swirling plasterwork of the tea-room behind the tall corner windows, and some of the original dressing rooms abandoned for decades. Afterwards, it became abandoned,abaandoned, Title: The Forgotten Grandeur of Glasgow's Odeon Renfield Street User1: TheLostProjectionist Has anyone passed by the old Odeon on Renfield Street lately? It's heartbreaking to see such an iconic building looking so forlorn and forgotten. It feels like a piece of cinema history is just fading away before our eyes. User2: GlasgowCinephile Absolutely, LostProjectionist. I used to go there all the time as a kid. I remember the buzz around the place, especially after that refurbishment in '99. It's a shame to see it in its current state - all boarded up with nothing but a memory of what it used to be. User3: MovieBuff1986 It's such a landmark building, too. I heard it was only the facade that got B-listed. The interior, with all its history, has been gutted and it seems like nobody can do anything to bring it back to life. That place had a soul once. User4: UrbanExplorer I managed to get inside the building last month. As much as it's a shell of what it was, you can still find some original features hidden away. There's even some plasterwork and the old tea-room that hint at its former glory. It's like walking through a time capsule. User1: TheLostProjectionist @UrbanExplorer, that must have been quite the experience! Any chance you took some pictures? It would be great to see what's left of the interior, even if it's just a glimpse of the past. User4: UrbanExplorer Yeah, I did snap a few before it got too dark inside. The flashlight on my phone wasn't enough to do it justice, but I'll upload what I have onto the forum later. It was eerie but fascinating. User5: ModernGlasgow It's a tough situation. The city changes, and those old buildings can't always keep up. At least we had the memories, right? Still, I can't shake the feeling that we're losing a piece of Glasgow's soul with every historic building that goes under. User2: GlasgowCinephile I miss the neon lights and the blockbuster nights. Now we're stuck with these generic multiplexes that lack character. Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, but I think the city loses something when we let places like the Odeon go. User6: CinemaLover09 Did anyone else see the final message on the readograph? "Thank You and Goodnight." Just thinking about it gives me chills. Such a simple, dignified sign-off to decades of entertainment. User3: MovieBuff1986 I saw that, CinemaLover09. It was like the building itself was taking a final bow. Really poetic, but so sad. Makes you wonder what stories those walls could tell if they could talk. User4: UrbanExplorer [Attachment: Odeon_Interior_Remnants.jpg] Here are the pics I promised. Not great quality, but you can see some of the detailed work and what's left of the tea-room. User1: TheLostProjectionist Thanks for sharing, UrbanExplorer. Those are some haunting images, like ghosts of the past. It's strange to think that new generations will pass by without ever knowing the magic that place once held. Write a forum conversation sometime in 20092010 where it looked forlornthey talk about the notice and readograph, and also say that it will be redeveloped soon
CHATBOT: Title: The Uncertain Future of Glasgow's Odeon Renfield Street User1: TheLostProjectionist Walking past the old Odeon on Renfield Street is such a bittersweet experience. I can't help but stop and read that notice every time I'm there. "Your nearest Odeon is at Springfield Quay" it says, but it's not the same. And the old readograph message, so poignant. User2: GlasgowCinephile Yes, "Thank You and Goodnight" - what a classy way to end an era. Seeing it now, just lifeless, it's tough for anyone who cherished the place. But I've heard whispers of redevelopment--anyone else come across this? User3: MovieBuff1986 I've heard those rumors too. They say it's supposed to be revitalized as some mixed commercial space, but info is sparse. Honestly, after so many years, I'll believe it when I see the scaffolding up. User4: UrbanReviver The redevelopment plans have been making rounds for a while. The building is in such a prime location, it was only a matter of time. The city can't afford to have it standing empty forever. User1: TheLostProjectionist Mixed feelings about this. It would be great to see new life in that space, but if the plans don't include preserving some of its history, it'll be like it never existed. User5: HeritageGuardian It's a delicate balance, retaining the character and memories of a space while making it viable in the modern market. Hoping any redevelopment is sympathetic to its legacy. User6: CinemaLover09 I'll miss the grandeur of it all. The thought of just a few superficial nods to its history in a modern complex doesn't sit well with me. The Odeon was more than just a building--it was an institution. User2: GlasgowCinephile @HeritageGuardian, is there any movement to preserve more of the interior? Last I checked, it sounded like most of it was gutted, with few original features left. User5: HeritageGuardian The B-listing protects the facade, but there's little leverage for the interiors. The reality is any developer will prioritize usable space. Preserving the entire interior just isn't commercially viable, sadly. User4: UrbanReviver There's a lot of potential in adaptive reuse, but it's costly. Considering how competitive cinema has become, it's surprising the building survived this long post-closure. Just grateful the facade wasn't demolished. User1: TheLostProjectionist True. Hopefully, whatever comes next will, at least, honor the spirit of the old Odeon. That corner of Renfield Street won't be the same without its neon glow and the p...
CHATBOT: Title: The Final Curtain Call for Glasgow's Odeon Renfield Street User1: TheLostProjectionist I saw it today, and my heart just sank. The readograph has been changed - "It's over". They couldn't have chosen a more heart-wrenching message. I heard demolition starts next Wednesday. User2: GlasgowCinephile This is the day I've been dreading. It feels like losing a part of my childhood. I can't believe they're tearing it down. That building was a temple for film lovers. User3: MovieBuff1986 There's a heavy feeling in my chest thinking about it. "It's over." As if the building itself knows its fate. Kind of poetic but doesn't make it any less tragic. User4: UrbanExplorer I had to walk by and see for myself. It really is the end of an era. The fact that the readograph, something that used to announce the latest hits, now serves as an epitaph--it's just too much. User5: ModernGlasgow Shocked, but I suppose it was inevitable. In the end, it's prime real estate, and the building didn't suit the needs of a modern city. Still, it's a sad day for all of us who have memories there. User1: TheLostProjectionist I can't fathom that space without the Odeon. Even in its dilapidated state, I held onto hope. But "It's over" is so final. It's like watching an old friend fade away. User6: CinemaLover09 Every city changes, but this feels like a misstep. Couldn't they have integrated the old with the new? Surely not everything has to give way to modernization. User2: GlasgowCinephile I'll be there to take one last photo before the demolition. A way to honor the memories. If anyone wants to join, perhaps it's our way of saying goodbye. User7: HeritageWatch Heartbroken that it's come to this. I've been fighting to preserve spaces like this one, but the battle is so often lost. What a somber note for Glasgow's storied past in cinema. User3: MovieBuff1986 Next Wednesday, then. It's not just bricks and mortar we're, losing it's the soul of the city's love affair with the movies. Those walls echoed with the laughter, tears, and applause of generations. User4: UrbanExplorer Does anyone know what's planned for the site post-demolition? More bland retail space? Luxury apartments? Seems nothing is sacred in the face of progress. User5: ModernGlasgow The details are vague, but mixed-use seems to be the way it's going. It won't have the same character, that's for sure. Such a shame we can't hold onto these cultural landmarks. User8: ForgottenGlasgow "Thank You and Goodnight" turned into "It'...