Back in the 1950s and 60s, the Southend Odeon was THE place in south Essex to see not just nationally, but internationally famous acts and groups. Doubling up as a cinema and an auditorium, the Odeon - on Southend High Street - was consistently putting on major shows and acts to more than 2,000 people at a time.

UPDATE: 2015
Southend's Odeon cinema has re-opened following an evacuation this afternoon (Wednesday).
Two fire units were called to the High Street location, near to the Victoria Circus shopping centre following activation of the fire alarm.
More than 100 people were forced to leave the cinema, including Serena Willmore from Southend.

Did you know that between 1898 and 1935, the Southend area was home to 30 cinemas? Entertainment really boomed in this town - first the silent movies, then black and white flicks, the live acts and then colour film.
Many auditoriums were grand and lavish inside. The Astoria on Southend High Street - which opened four years before the start of World War 2 - seated an incredible 2,750 paying customers.

Viewers watching BBC1's Saturday evening candyfest "Strictly Come Dancing" might have been somewhat surprised to see Bruce Forsyth announce the news that, after everything, the BBC had managed to secure the rights to show highlights of the World Cup qualifying match between Ukraine and England and that they would be shown later that evening on BBC1.

Southend's very first film festival got off to a brilliant start as actors, journalists and dignatries came together at the Odeon Cinema to watch edgy-British movie. 'Shifty'.
Here are some pics from the evening...report to follow
Southend's very first film festival got off to a brilliant start as actors, journalists and dignatries came together at the Odeon Cinema to watch edgy-British movie.