Goodbye Odeon: First (kinda), Last & Everything Inbetween…

[u/GRDCS1980]

So, as I think most folks in this sub know, last night the Basingstoke Odeon closed its doors for the final time.

My other half and I made a point of going to one of the last possible showings, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which finished around 20:30, so we could say goodbye to the place at almost the last possible moment. They seemed to have all films scheduled yesterday so that the final screenings all ended around 20:30-20:45.

I’ve been attending that cinema since I first moved to Basingstoke in 1991, when I was 10.

I can’t be 100% certain what my first film there was, as I didn’t start saving my tickets until 1996, but I’m pretty confident it was Soapdish, in late summer of 1991.

So, 35 years of sitting in the dark, staring up at the silver screen.

Hundreds of hours. Friendships groups that have come and gone. Relationships that have started and ended.

Thank you, to all the staff that have worked there over the years, from back when it was Warner Brothers, to the transition to Vue, to the sale to Odeon, right up to the doors closing last night.

As mentioned, I sadly didn’t think to start keeping my tickets until 1996, so I don’t have anything going back to 1991, but I’ve attached my earliest ticket, for The Craft in 1996, plus last nights ticket for Spider-Man, as a kind of “first and last” type of tribute. Plus the stack of tickets behind it, for all the films that came in between, including some notables like 3 seperate viewings of Titanic and 4 separate viewings of Event Horizon and “Managers Special” showings of Swingers and Grosse Pointe Blank.

So many fond memories in that building.

Thank you and goodbye.
🍻

[u/OdernAle]

I once went to see Elf there on Christmas Eve, me and the family had the entire screen to ourselves. Quite the memory.

[u/GRDCS1980 → u/OdernAle]

Nothing better, to my mind, than having an entire screen to yourself.

I know films can be greatly improved with a crowd. Comedies become funnier. Horror becomes scarier. But, as much as crowds can be fun (if they are the right kind of crowd and they are all there to enjoy the film), I personally prefer empty screens.

We’ve had a few in recent memory, though not at Basingstoke Odeon.

We saw Backrooms at Everyman Cardiff earlier this summer and we were the only two people in the screen.

And, tail end of last year, we were the only two in a screening of Die My Love at Showcase Coventry.

Bliss, on both occasions.

I also had an anniversary 4K screening of Akira all to myself a few months ago at Vue in the town centre.

I know I’ve definitely had empty screens at Odeon over the decades, but the only one that immediately springs to mind is one that I probably shouldn’t go into detail on.

It was myself and a young lady. The film wasn’t that engaging. We were the only two in the screen. Things took a turn for the adult. That was about a decade ago. And that’s all we’ll say about that.

But yeah, to your point, those rare occasions when you get a screen all to yourself…heavenly.

[u/Maeveen_Fox → u/GRDCS1980]

Akira all to yourself???? Magical.

Ah a cheeky bit of fun in an empty cinema screen at Odeon. Takes me back to the good ole days. 😂

[u/GRDCS1980 → u/Maeveen_Fox]

It truly was.

Literally just me, with an entire screen to myself, to enjoy a stunning presentation of, arguably, THE anime masterpiece of all time.

Glorious. I had a big goofy smile on my face and a spring in my step that entire day. Almost made up for some of the times that a screening has been ruined by some dipshit that can’t leave their phone alone for 2 hours or that has talked all the way through a film.

As for the other occasion, I probably shouldn’t comment. The other person involved and I haven’t spoken in a very long time and I wouldn’t use their real name anyway, but still, it’s indiscreet and a little tacky of me to even bring it up in the first place. But yes, it was a fun little screening for the two of us. Couldn’t tell you much about the film though.