THE last in a series of podcasts about the city’s former Odeon building has been released.

Odeon historian Mark Nicholson is behind the venture, as he prepares to publish a book shortly on the 1930s building too.

The latest podcast is an account of the construction of the New Victoria cinema which began in 1929, and details the demolition of the old brewery on the site, as well as the architects plans, steelwork being installed and its opening on September 22 the following year.

Mr Nicholson said: “The latest podcast in the series is an account of the 1929/30 construction of the New Victoria cinema. I am fortunate enough to have in my archive a wealth of images showing the cinema being built.

“Alan Noble, who had been a projectionist at the Gaumont and Odeon Twins, found a box of glass slide negatives beneath the stage during the 1969 conversion works. They were dated too. He later gave these to the Bradford Odeon Rescue Group.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Construction of the New Victoria – July 1929, cantilever steelwork over the beck. Picture: Alan Noble ArchiveConstruction of the New Victoria – July 1929, cantilever steelwork over the beck. Picture: Alan Noble Archive

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Construction of the New Victoria - July 1929, towards stage right. Picture: Andrew Bolt ArchiveConstruction of the New Victoria - July 1929, towards stage right. Picture: Andrew Bolt Archive

“Andrew Bolt, a fellow historian, happened to come across a brown envelope at a car boot sale which contained additional photos of the construction. Thanks to these two gentlemen, we are able to see an architectural masterpiece gradually rise from the site of a former brewery.”

The building is currently being renovated by Bradford Live and being turned into a 4,000-capacity live music venue. Following a recently-announced delay as more work has been uncovered, it is now set to open in autumn 2023.

The organisation has a long-term lease from the building owner, Bradford Council, and has an agreement in place to sublease it to the NEC Group as operator in what is a 30-year deal.

Mr Nicholson added: “Myself and Bradford Live had an agreement with The Heritage Lottery Fund to share various aspects of the former Odeon building's history with the wider public.

“Covid and the lockdowns scuppered our initial plan to deliver this via sessions at local historical societies and other interested venues in 2020, so we came up with the idea of a series of video podcasts as an alternative.

“We have now fulfilled our obligation, and it has been very enjoyable. The wider history of the building is still yet to be shared, and this is now in the works!”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Construction of the New Victoria – August 1929, foyers and upper balcony steel: Alan Noble ArchiveConstruction of the New Victoria – August 1929, foyers and upper balcony steel: Alan Noble Archive

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Construction of the New Victoria – November 1929, roof girders Picture: Alan Noble ArchiveConstruction of the New Victoria – November 1929, roof girders Picture: Alan Noble Archive

He added that he had also been documenting the current works since they began, capturing photos and video footage on a near-fortnightly basis.

“Bradford Live will be sharing this increasing archive in due course,” he said.

The podcasts can be found at youtube.com/c/BradfordLive.

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