Hopeful cinema supporters toast Odeon's 70th anniversary

But as cinema enthusiasts gather to mark the milestone with a glass of champagne, uncertainty is still hanging over the future of the historic site in Blossom Street, which is now boarded up and shabby looking.

The Odeon has stood empty since showing its last film at the end of August.

Estate agent Colliers CRE, of Leeds, which has been called in to sell a long leasehold on the art deco building, said they had spoken to a number of interested parties, but a new operator had yet to be confirmed.

Odeon campaigner Derek Atkins, who still hopes another cinema chain can take over the site, will gather with friends and enthusiasts today to toast the 70-year milestone with a bottle of champagne.

"I feel I've been denied the chance to celebrate this milestone birthday," he said.

"As far as we are aware, no contracts have yet been signed."

At the cinema's opening 70 years ago, a stream of expensive cars delivered VIP guests, among them the Viscount and Viscountess Milton, as well as the chain's founder, Oscar Deutsch. All of its 1,484 seats were sold out within 90 minutes of the box office opening, and the first person in the queue to buy a ticket was also presented with a bottle of champagne by the cinema's management.

The first films to be shown there were The Man Who Could Work Miracles, see poster, starring Roland Young, and They Met In A Taxi, starring Fay Wray and Chester Morris. Prices began at sixpence for the cheapest stalls seat and went up to two shillings for the dearest circle seat.

Cinema historian Tim Addyman, of Shipton, near York, said: "It would be nice if the Odeon was still open so we could celebrate this properly. It's sad that the building is empty but, hopefully, we will have some sort of decision soon."

Under a user clause, the building can be used as a cinema, theatre or any other place of public entertainment, and there is total floor space of almost 20,000 square feet.