Odeon Cinema, Bilston

The Odeon Cinema, Bilston, originally known as Wood's Picture Palace, is a former cinema in Bilston, West Midlands, England. Built in 1921 by the Wood family, who had shown films in Bilston Town Hall since 1910, it was designed by architect Hurley Robinson and seated 1,400 across stalls and circle levels. The venue included stage facilities, a café, and a billiard room. Its first film, The Old Nest, was shown on 17 November 1921, and its first 'talkie', On Trial, followed on 14 October 1929. The cinema became part of the Odeon Cinemas chain in 1936 and was renamed the Odeon in 1937. It closed in February 1964 under owners The Rank Organisation. The interior was then converted into a bingo hall, opening as Top Rank Bingo Club the following year; after several name changes, bingo ceased in 1999. In 2005 the building was repurposed as an events venue, the Imperial Banqueting Suite. The site is a notable example of early 20th-century cinema architecture in the West Midlands and reflects the evolution of entertainment venues in the region.

The Odeon Cinema, Bilston, began as Wood's Picture Palace, built in 1921 by the Wood family, who had been showing films in Bilston Town Hall since 1910. The architect was Hurley Robinson. The cinema seated 1,400 people in stalls and circle levels and offered stage facilities, a café, and a billiard room. The first film shown, on 17 November 1921, was The Old Nest. The first 'talkie' shown was On Trial, on 14 October 1929. In 1936, the cinema became part of the Odeon Cinemas chain and was renamed the Odeon in 1937. It continued as a cinema until February 1964, when it was closed by its then owners, The Rank Organisation. The interior was subsequently converted into a bingo hall, opening as Top Rank Bingo Club the following year. After subsequent changes of name, bingo was discontinued in 1999. In 2005, the building became an events venue known as the Imperial Banqueting Suite.

• 2005

  Building becomes the Imperial Banqueting Suite events venue.

• 1999

  Bingo discontinued.

• 1965

  Reopens as Top Rank Bingo Club.

• 1964

  Closed in February by The Rank Organisation.

• 1937

  Renamed the Odeon.

• 1936

  Becomes part of the Odeon Cinemas chain.

• 1929

  First 'talkie', On Trial, shown on 14 October.

• 1921

  Wood's Picture Palace built; opens on 17 November with The Old Nest.

• 1910

  Wood family begins showing films in Bilston Town Hall.

Historic former cinema and entertainment venue in Bilston, now operating as an events space.

• Cinema screenings

• Stage performances

• Bingo

• Banqueting and events

1. 1Odeon, Bilston - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Odeon Cinema, Bilston - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org