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Author Topic: Question about UCI cinemas (UK) Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 07-13-2005 04:58 PM                     quote: Pete Naples Originally Odeon used Gaumont Kalee equipment BTH originally, Odeon use of GK came later.  |  IP: Logged Bernard Tonks Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 619 From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England Registered: Apr 2001 posted 07-14-2005 06:29 AM                     The dozen or so cinemas I knew in Hampshire that were taken over as Associate Odeon Theatres Ltd of County Cinemas Ltd and other small circuits (I worked at the Rex Farnborough in 1953), all had Simplex projectors and Western Electric sound. Only the Odeon (formally named County) in Fleet changed to newly installed BTH SUPA MK2 projectors, the model with the round spool boxes. Unlike the BTH SUPA MK1 which always to me looked like a couple of elephants looking out of a porthole. The Empire (later Odeon) Aldershot had a pair of Kalee 21 projectors onto Western Electric Universal bases. About five years ago in Screentrade magazine, there was a profile interview with the CEO of UCI multiplex cinemas. He mentioned that one install of equipment was so unreliable that they turfed the lot out and replaced with Cinemeccanica Victoria 5s. I believe there are a couple of Victoria 4s still running at the Odeon Richmond. One ex ABC rebranded Odeon Esher in Surrey now with four screens, has replaced the Kinoton equipment with Vic 5s. I was told the reason for this was that it was a shop window and Vector automation control test bed for Sound Associates nearby in East Molesey.  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 07-14-2005 08:53 AM                     Stephen you are absolutely right, I forgot about that! Of course you've a better chance of remembering such things, being older than me!  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 07-14-2005 11:56 AM                     We have somebody here from Faversham, I can't remember his name. This used to be an Odeon, and they were still running the pre-war BTH machines until quite recently, I think it was about three years ago. I went there with a CTA visit a few years ago, and they still had them then. The original BTH arcs had been replaced with Kalee Presidents, I would guess at the same time as the Kalee Varamorphs were fitted. These machines were quite different to the post-war SUPAs.  |  IP: Logged Michael Harlow Expert Film Handler Posts: 170 From: Faversham, Kent, UK Registered: Jul 2002 posted 07-15-2005 07:39 AM                     Did someone call? Yes although I now have an FP20 i still have the BTH machines here as well as the GK president lamphouses. I also have a BTH sound rack (all valve of course) and BTH horn and bass bin. Although not being used it all still works fine. The carbons were powered by a westinghouse rectifier (around 80amps)  |  IP: Logged David Graham Rose Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Cambridge, UK Registered: Sep 2002 posted 07-16-2005 06:06 AM                     Greetings All from a warm Cambridge Pete said; "Realistically, with the exception of Odeon, the major chains in the UK don't have brand loyalty when it comes to machinery. Warner for example used ORC Century and Cinemecannica" Do not forget that Cineworld cinemas are 100% Strong equipped, Showcase are also 100% Strong equipped, what was UGC are 99% Phillips/Kinoton equipped. Odeon are no longer brand loyal to Cinemecannica since the merge with the much lamented ABC Phillips/Kinoton equipped circuit. From Cambridge, good morning  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 07-16-2005 10:58 AM                     True, but could you really describe Showcase or Cineworld as 'major chains'? It'll be interesting to watch and see which way the new Odeon circuit goes in terms of equipment, if they ever build anything.  |  IP: Logged David Graham Rose Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Cambridge, UK Registered: Sep 2002 posted 07-16-2005 11:43 AM                     Greetings Peter I think major chain is an extremly valid description for the Cineworld brand! Your from a warm Cambridge, Good evening!  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 07-16-2005 12:16 PM                     Well you must remember that I am fairly limited to what I see here in Scotland, North of England and Ireland, and with the sum total of one site anywhere North of the river Tyne, they aren't exactly well known in these parts! I wonder what their market share compare to Vue or Odeon is? I guess though, if you don't have a massive number of screens, it makes sense to concentrate them round centres of population.  |  IP: Logged Bernard Tonks Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 619 From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England Registered: Apr 2001 posted 07-16-2005 05:12 PM                     The latest I could find on UK Cinema Market Share: ODEON 24%. U C I 11%. VUE 17%. U G C 11%. CINEWORLD 11%. SHOWCASE 7%. APOLLO 2%. STER CENTURY 2%. Other/Independent 10% Source Carlton Screen Advertising. http://www.carltonscreen.com/ And more on BTH projectors if I may. Faversham must be unique to also have BTH equipment in working order. The type C carbon lamphouses from Ilfracombe (Ross/RCA) would be ideal to complete the set. The Plaza Scarborough was also one of the last cinemas running with vintage BTH. The finest BTH projector I ever worked with was the later model KB, film really purred through. There were four of these machines installed for 3D projection at the old Odeon Marble Arch. The last BTH SUPAs I saw running was at the Regal WadeBridge, with Westrex towers in two screens. They were eventually replaced with Philips FP75s.  |  IP: Logged David Graham Rose Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: Cambridge, UK Registered: Sep 2002 posted 07-17-2005 11:03 AM                     Greetings All With repect to Cineworld, one has to remember that Cineworld and UGC are one and the same,(as are Vue and Ster Century) and have been for a number of months. It's only a matter of time I'm sure until the whole estate is rebranded Cineworld. From Cambridge, Good evening David  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 07-17-2005 02:14 PM                     UCI and Odeon are both owned by Tera Firma Capital Partners  |  IP: Logged

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