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About The ODEON Cinema, Balham
My latest piece celebrates the legacy of Oscar Deutsch, who built the ODEON cinema group from 1928 until his death in 1941. Designed by prolific cinema architect George Coles, the Balham ODEON opened in 1938 and proved to be a true survivor. Rebuilt quickly after taking a direct hit during WWII, it served as an ODEON until 1972, before reopening as The Liberty, a popular home for Asian film for the rest of the decade.
Visiting the building recently, I was struck by how far this Art Deco landmark had fallen. Today, its lower floors house a wine merchant, its upper levels have been converted into flats, and its roof is crowned with ugly mobile phone masts. Unlike many cinemas across London, it was never granted heritage protection, leaving it modified with far less care than it deserves.
Seeing the building in its current state of neglect made me realise it had to be my next subject. I have stripped away decades of alterations and modern clutter to restore the ODEON Balham to its opening-day glory. If no one else is showing it the love it deserves, then I must do what I can to preserve it in my own way.
Name: ODEON Balham
Architect: George Coles
Opened: 16th April 1938
First film: Blondes for Danger
Closed: 1980 (as The Liberty)
Original capacity: 1,822
Style: Art Deco, Modernist, Streamline Moderne
All prints are presented on Hahnemühle German etching Giclée paper. Frames are solid wood from sustainable sources, manufactured to high standards.
Sizes available:
A4 - 21×30cm, 8×12"
A3 - 30×42cm, 12×17"
A2 - 42×59cm, 17×23"
A1 - 59×84cm, 23×33"