Harry Atkins, who saw original opening of the Odeon cinema in York, is VIP guest at Reel relaunch (From York Press)
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Harry Atkins, who saw original opening of the Odeon cinema in York, is VIP guest at Reel relaunch
11:19am Saturday 20th June 2009 in News
Harry Atkins being greeted by staff at the revamped Odeon during its reopening, presided over Reel Cinemas boss Kailash Suri
WHEN York’s Odeon cinema was opened back in 1937, schoolboy Harry Atkins stood on the pavement across Blossom Street and watched the glittering ceremony unfold.
But it was a different story when the picturehouse re-opened last night as a Reel Cinema, when Harry – now an 81-year-old pensioner – was welcomed inside as a VIP guest.
Harry, of Holgate, said he was invited to the reception after chatting to workmen as he was passing one day during the massive refurbishment scheme, praised the work and mentioned his experience back in the 30s.
“I remember the building being floodlit and a fanfare of trumpets last time,” he said.
“I didn’t see the film then, which was The Man Who Could Work Miracles, but went the following week to see Accused.
“I used to go regularly in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. It was a Saturday night ritual. The queue used to go back to the Windmill."
He hailed Reel’s decision to buy, restore and reopen the cinema, saying: “They’ve done a wonderful job.”
Reel Cinemas boss Kailash Suri told an enthusiastic and packed auditorium that, after buying the cinema in 2007, he had received calls every fortnight from The Press to ask what was happening.
“I would say: ‘We are just having a meeting.’ ”
But eventually it had been decided in January to push ahead with the refurbishment.
York MP Hugh Bayley said more than 13,000 people had signed The Press’s petition calling for the old Odeon cinema to be saved, and he had presented this to Odeon’s headquarters.
He urged those 13,000-plus people and other residents to come and use the cinema and make it a big success. “It’s absolutey fantastic to see this auditorium packed tonight,” he said.
“This is a very special occasion.” He said many people had believed the cinema would never open again.
Cinema-goers spoke of their deilight at the refurbishment work which has restored the picturehouse to its former glory, and which is almost complete.
Only a small area of seats in the main auditorium remained waiting to be re-upholstered last night.
