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From Odeon to Odyssey

So as spring hoves into view...

The Odeon cinema looks on the way to being saved (gimme some wood to touch) and reborn as The Alpha, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the people of St Albans (with a little chivvying by James Hannaway) and absolutely no thanks to the useless muppets masquerading as a St Albans District Council.

The roads are a mess thanks to the snow and Hertfordshire Highways are still as epically useless as ever.

Verulam Writers Circle has become absurdly successful (and for some reason they elected me chair).

Plus ça change.

The Odeon - so far so good

So The Rex at Berkhamsted was packed to the rafters (pardon the cliche) for a very promising start.

Mary Woodward has added some terrific pictures of what could be to her photoblog (see previous post for link).

St Albans Odeon

St Albans Odeon is a classic art deco style odeon - well, it would be if it wasn't derelict. It also occupies the site of St Albans Picture Palace, the first ever raked-floor cinema in the UK and it should be a sacred site to the British film industry.

Astoundingly, it nearly got knocked down to make way for flats, but the great news is that James Hannaway, who has made a fabulous success of The Rex in Berkhamsted, wants to buy it and perform his mojo.

Mary Woodward has started a photo record of what, hopefully, will be a super restoration.
In the meantime, a public meeting is being held at The Rex in Berkhamsted on 29 November for anyone who wants to know what's going on or get involved.

What is most depressing is the utter indifference of St Albans District Council - is members and officers. At the City centre consultation a few weeks back, the planner in attendance did not even know the history of the site.

Now this is way cool

I know, it has been ages. Real life, eh? But this is so damned cool it has to be given a nod.

Woo hoo!

Goodbye Mayfair, hello St Albans!