What's it all about?

In November 2002, the Odeon cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne moved to new premises, vacating its home of more than seventy years - the Art Deco former Paramount Theatre building in Pilgrim Street, opened in 1931, and described as one of the best of its kind in Europe.

The building was (briefly) Grade II listed, on the advice of English Heritage; then, it was controversially delisted by the UK government Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), following an appeal by the building's then owners, Cinven.

More than a year after its closure, this fine, landmark building remains empty, and its future is far from assured. The site has been purchased by a developer, quite possibly for retail development, but as yet no firm plans have been announced.

While the building's façade may be retained as part of any redevelopment, it is for its Art Deco interior that the building is most noteworthy. Of course, the building has been modified over the years, most extensively in the 1970s when its one auditorium was divided into three. However, experts agree that most of this work is reversible, and that many original features probably remain undisturbed beneath the later additions and alterations. Our friends at the Preserve the Paramount website have gathered together more detailed historical and architectural information about the building.

This site is supporting the campaign to prevent the decay or demolition of the Paramount Theatre, and to secure its restoration and reuse as a venue of which the city of Newcastle can be rightly proud. This website - Save Newcastle's Paramount Theatre - is intended to raise awareness of the campaign among a global audience, and to act as a focal point for information and resources relevant to the former Odeon building.

Update, July 2006: This site is now hosted on its own domain at www.newcastleparamount.org.uk. Please update your bookmarks.

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Contents of this site

Photo Gallery: Interior and exterior photographs of the building.

Final evening: The Odeon's final evening (26 November 2002).

Diary: Latest news about the building.

How you can help: People to write to, banners for your site.

Petition: Sign the petition, and have your say about the building - more than 300 signatures so far!

Forum: Talk about the Paramount Theatre.

Related links: Links to other Newcastle Paramount campaign sites, Paramount Theatres elsewhere, and other related information.

Press coverage: Press coverage of the building and campaign.

Related reading: Books about cinema architecture and other areas of interest.

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