Birmingham Odeon
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New Street. Long before the NIA and Symphony Hall and the NEC this was THE main venue for top acts. It was regularly transformed from a huge one screen cinema, which opened in 1937 with an ornate art deco interior, into a vibrant concert venue, filled with sweaty rockers or screaming girls – sometimes both!
In 1988 it was converted into a multiplex cinema, despite local opposition that wanted its owners Rank, to continue it as a concert venue. For a while after that, chart acts went to Wolverhampton Civic Hall, by-passing Birmingham altogether!
The big stars then went to the NEC and later the NIA (which was originally built as a sports arena).
In the Odeon, at times you could see parts of the upstairs circle moving as the circle crowd bobbed up and down. It was a huge sounding venue and is sorely missed. It hosted many national and international stars including U2, Bob Marley, Genesis, Slade, Rush, AC/DC, The Beatles and Abba.
