Save the Old Odeon- Sign the Petition

The Old Odeon in Clerk Street brings back a lot of fond memories for me.  As a student living two minutes up the road I was a regular visitor.  It was there that I saw all the classics of late 90s/early 2000s cinema- American Beauty, Gladiator, Blair Witch Project, Spice World etc.  I was sad to see it close in 2003 although I was encouraged to see its life extended by becoming a Fringe venue.  However, that came to an end in 2007 and it has remained unused since. 

It's not so much a sense of nostalgia that saddens me about this.  I don't particularly long for my lost youth; I'm fitter and healthier than I was ten years ago and I like sleeping in a bed instead of a mattress on the floor.  No, it's because from its art deco facade to the many original 1930 internal features it's an iconic building, and one that could still do a job serving the people of Embra.

I think the last thing I saw there was in 2005- the always entertaining Tiger Lillies (see the end of the post).  Around the same time I remember the Filmhouse was publishing plans to relocate to a new purpose-built facility in Festival Square which would provide a suitable home and main venue for the Edinburgh International Film Festival.  I remember at the time thinking that surely it would be cheaper and just as exciting for them to renovate the Old Odeon and relocate there.  

My idea came to nothing, hardly surprising as I didn't tell anyone about it.  However, today the New Victoria Project is campaigning not only to protect the building but in the long term to ensure it will "be a space for everybody; open to the community and committed to the development of the arts. Space will be allocated for the use of community education groups, meetings, societies and clubs, alongside the specialist music, cinema and cabaret auditoriums."   Many of you will agree that this sounds like a fitting use for a venue such as this, but not its owners Duddingston House Properties who want to demolish parts of it and convert it into a hotel.  However, these plans were put on hold last year by a ruling which said that the building should be marketed again in the hope of finding a use which would avoid any demolition.

Unfortunately, since then DHP have not accepted any bids (with many feeling their valuation to be unrealistic) and there are growing concerns about the state of the building, with photographs of the inside showing that water and vermin are getting in.  The worry is that if this is allowed to continue the owners will eventually be able to argue that it is beyond repair and thus be permitted to demolish it as planned.

The Southside Community Council are fighting against this.   They want to see this building returned to its former glory as a cultural hub for this part of the city.  They have sponsored a petition which is calling on the council to initiate urgent compulsory repairs and compulsory purchase proceedings so that it can be used as a cinema and arts venue.  I hope you add your name and then hopefully we can see more performances there like this.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save_our_cinema/