Oh No.… No Odeon... Another Cinema Bites the Dust

 

Gremlins (1984)

Another iconic theatre is set to close its doors.

Any cinema lover growing up, watching favourite films at their local ‘picture house’ will lament with me today. The sad news filters through of yet another Odeon Cinema closing down. Weston-super-Mare’s beloved but slightly neglected Odeon Theatre, is shutting its doors on 5th June. This is not only a blow to the cinephile’s intellect, but also a deep strike at this movie-lover’s heart. 

Mirroring the once vibrant town centre of Weston, another seaside resort on the North Somerset coast, which has slowly fallen into dis-repair and despair, the Odeon dies along with tourism and the memories. The Covid pandemic, world-wide economic decline, Internet streaming services, and other technological advances resetting for the digital AI age, have claimed their next victim.

No rescue for this Odeon!

I was alerted through Twitter by friend, and fellow movie-buff, aka The Headless DJ, that my beloved local Somerset Art Deco cinema is closing too. Gone will be its standout 30s architectural heritage, showcasing a minimalistic style, the epitome of ‘high-tech’ for a post-war Britain, and housing (in the floor of Screen Four) one of the two remaining working ‘Compton Theatre Organs’ in existence in the UK. A venue the Beatles once played, apparently twice-nightly for a week in the summer of 1963, and other similar luminaries of the era, like Gene Vincent and Gerry and the Pacemakers.

I had no idea that the Odeon Cinema Group was cutting its losses by closing several venues throughout the country, including the Blackpool Odeon, Banbury and Oxford, as well as the Odeon in Ayr, Scotland. I was so shocked at this sad news that I rushed over to my local theatre to get the truth from the manager face-to-face. It was alarming to find a table of old billboard posters in the foyer with a ‘Please Take One’ sign, and confirmation from the staff. I admit, I shed a tear or two.

This jolt to the senses had me reminiscing about the good ole’ days spent as a child, watching all the big movie releases with friends and family. So many distant memories, forgotten events, suddenly brought to life again.

I remember my first movie experience in Screen One. Climbing up the grand red carpeted split-staircase, into the upper foyer, the velvet Chaise Longues with gold trim edges, packed with people, and then up more stairs into a low-light auditorium, revealing more velvet chairs, a large screen looming white above my head… full of promise. We found our seats and waited with excitement for Walt Disney’s ‘The Rescuers’ (1977). 

It was a rare occasion when my mum wasn’t working and had an hour or two to take me and my little brother to the cinema. We were treated to popcorn from the Usherette’s selection box, during the long-lost tradition of an interval. It was a magical time for us kids, a time before computers, smart phones, and disillusionment.

Screen 4 with fashionable hexagonal clock

I remember my dad trying to get us seats for ‘Star Wars IV: A New Hope’ (1977), but they were like gold and sold-out every day. We cried and sulked, until one afternoon he came home with the coveted tickets, and we finally got to see our first blockbuster in wonderment.

I remember a giant cut-out iconic James Bond 007 of Roger Moore, Walther PPK gun in hand, adorning the tall flat roof of the Odeon in 1981, ‘For Your Eyes Only’, held in place by ropes, it was visible for miles. 

I remember trying to get into the Odeon, pretending to be 15, to see director John Badham’s ‘Blue Thunder’ (1983), a very ‘adult’ film at the time. The lady that sat in the round cubicle ticket office, which use to be in the centre of the foyer, checked me up and down saying I looked about 12 so there was no ticket for me!

I remember my best friend visiting from Bournemouth, to watch ‘Back to the Future (1985) in Screen Two, and it was so packed out that management brought in metal foldable chairs to add to the end of the isles. People were turned away in droves, even though they filled two auditoriums. We were the lucky ones it seemed.

I remember baby-sitting a friend’s sister and taking her to see ‘Hook’ (1991), attempting to be mature, while dozens of very loud children trampled all over my feet going in and out of the isle. I swore I’d never do it again. My feet hurt just watching a TV rerun of it now.

I remember seeing ‘Remains of the Day’ (1993) in Screen Three, and everyone talking loudly over each other whenever a Somerset landmark appeared on screen, it was so off-putting in that tiny auditorium. I can’t watch Emma Thompson anymore, far too annoying.

I remember my brother and his mates trying to sneak in through the side Emergency Exit door on Alexandra Parade, to see Val Kilmer in ‘Batman Forever’ (1995), while myself and a friend had bought our tickets and waited for them to arrive through ‘legal’ means. When they didn’t turn up, we went to look for them, figuring that they would be messing around, and finding one of them snogging his girlfriend in the stairwell, next to the Mens toilets, forgetting to open the fire-door to let the others in.

The 80s and 90s were the ‘hay days’ of the Weston Odeon I remember from my youth. Can you see a trend…. as the economy sinks, and technology changes, viewing figures plummet. It was only a matter of time before running a seaside cinema became, in the words of the Odeon’s spokesperson, “no-longer viable”. 

Many of us will be sad to see it gone, boarded-up, yet another casualty of ‘progress’. A pivotal element of our art and cultural experience soon reduced to dust. It would take hundreds of thousands of pounds to save the Odeon now, and more than nostalgia to bring it out of a soon to be bygone age. 

I will forever remember it as the place that brought my dreams alive, put stars in my eyes, and gave me hope for the future… all on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Goodbye Odeon old friend and thanks for the memories!

RIP Tina Turner (1939-2023)

Bird on The Wyre - The Strange Case of Nicola Bulley

 

(Disclaimer: Sensitive subject matter, could be triggering for some, could be seen as a Psyop by others!)

It was a cold January morning… this is how the story goes… but let’s not repeat overly used tropes and intros, they do no justice.

There’s scarcely a person in Britain that’s not heard of the strange case of Nicola Bulley, a young, fit, white middle-class mother of two, with loving partner, nice home, good job, who seemingly had everything to live for. She had disappeared. Not a soul had seen hide nor hair of her since the morning of Friday, January 27^th.  Then, 23 days later, she turned up dead on a countryside riverbank, unseen for weeks, apparently bobbing and floating in the murky cold-water reeds.

Why is it a strange case you ask, don’t thousands of people go missing everyday everywhere? That’s true, and statistically 170,000 people are reported missing annually in the UK. Some are found, some remain a mystery.

The Nicola Bulley case would’ve been no exception, if it wasn’t for the media furore and international attention that her disappearance garnered, along with that inevitable social media frenzy. You know, when everyone, and their mother, becomes transfixed with solving a seemingly ‘odd’ missing persons case. Where people trade insults and make nasty crude videos, or claim they know a friend of a friend of the family, who saw such-and-such at the Pub last night. The Youtubers, the Tik Tokers, the Twitterers, the Insta-blaggers. We all know them, some of us ARE them.

Where could she have gone screamed the hordes, even her partner and close family stated in media interviews: ‘People don’t just disappear into thin air… someone knows something!’

Obviously, someone does know. People taking their children to school and walking the dog along their usual greenspace don’t just happen to fall into rivers and drown without cause. Then again, maybe people throw themselves into bodies of water to purposely put an end to their lives, but who would choose a water depth of only a couple of meters, no guarantee your goal would be reached. Better to jump off a high-rise, or poison yourself, the chances of success greatly increase.

My personal fascination with the case falls in line with my interest in true crime, or rather, trying to solve the unsolvable. I have an urge to delve into the mysteries of the world thinking I can find a solution where others fail. A bit vein I know, but who doesn’t love a good ‘Who Done It’, and bragging rights on ‘I told You So!’

Let’s get serious now. This case continues to cause a buzz on social media due to the ‘Mainstream media’s’ explosive coverage, and the Police’s seemingly inept handling of the case. A story quickly picked up on by international news outlets and high-readership newspapers, seeing the British public’s interest skyrocketing in this digital age, where information moves like lightening, and TV news anchors are left flailing in the backdraft.

Police and public undertook extensive searches of the area Nicola went missing. Experts were brought in but found nothing. Then suddenly her body is found in an area gone over by many. The question of ‘Why wasn’t she found?’ became the mantra for those who felt something was not ‘quite right’ with the case.

There’s been 24-hour coverage, which on the surface is no different than your average missing persons mystery, but it’s helped cement this case, turning it into one for the history books. As it speeds along, becoming as bizarre as the public’s imagination can devise, everyone is asking, ‘What happened to Nicola Bulley?’ It’s March now, and there is no clear answer, yet.

I’ve covered a few of these strange cases on this blog over the years, from a synchromystic point of view. The world has moved on a lot, and public perception of ‘highly strange’ incidents has evolved. People have become more sophisticated in trying to understand things that don’t make sense. Synchronicity plays its part, so does conspiracy.

The elements of ‘high strangeness’ in the Nicola Bulley Case are listed below. I won’t delve in detail as there is far too much to analyse. I leave that to others. A superficial Google search will garner all the info you might need to do your own ‘investigating’. 

However, just looking at the number of inconsistencies, strange coincidences, and down-right weirdness surrounding this case, you have to wonder what is really going on here. The media frenzy has quietened down, readying for the inquest in June. Was this a simple case of a missing person, or a masterly crafted Psy-Op, manipulation of the masses for money, Police corruption, or something else entirely …There are people saying that Nicola Bulley was never at the location she disappeared from in the first place… others are saying… she never existed at all?

Missing and last seen at Bench no. 23

No. of days missing, then found on the 23^rd day.

The Online Psychic ‘Medium’ who stated he was in contact with her and eventually located her.

(He could be seen as one of those Internet Ghouls, one of those trolls that everyone hates on, right?)

‘The Body Language Panel’ experts exonerated the partner, as did all professionals in the case BEFORE she was found!

Strange ‘Go Fund Me’ activity by the best friend.

(The page recently reactivated by the sister in favour of the partner (by default, the children)

Images of Google Maps showing the wrong location of the supposed ‘last place seen’.

The Home CCTV ‘images’ released were provided by the best friend – images only - NOT video.

(Some commentators mentioning the likeness of the image to the best friend, and NOT to Nicola e.g.

Facial, hair and clothing similarities between Nicola and best friend in pics and videos).

Geolocation, mobile pings, and Fitbit data accessed by Police, but ambiguously referred to only once in a press conference.

The Work Teams Data accessed by Police but not made public except for an end-time.

The eyewitnesses remain unnamed, public kept guessing, some witnesses did NOT come forward in the first few days, even though their pictures from Police released CCTV, were on the front pages of the tabloids.

Timeline skewed… as Nicola’s belongings were found, but not reported on for one hour and a half. This time has now been disputed as Sky news ‘bumped into’ a witness who gave a differing timeline to events. (Said witness turning out to be a relation to other witnesses in the case!)

No explanation for the Clothing worn at time of going missing not being accurately reported in the media appeal for information.

The ‘Jan 10th Incident’, where Police and medical personnel were called to the home of Nicola following an incident. Police referred themselves to the Independent Commission for Police Conduct (ICPC) and are now under investigation themselves, after their so-called ‘Welfare Check’ at Nicola’s home on January 10^th was mishandled.

(This led to questions about what Police already knew prior to her disappearance.)

Media v Social Media backlash after Police reveal private medical information about Nicola to the press.

A reported witness coming forward to say they saw a suspicious ‘Red Van’ in the area .

(A red car/van is then seen in the background (through a window) of the ITV/Channel documentary presented by Dan Walker.)

The Channel 5 Documentary

Allegedly: The sister was an audience member at the BBC Strictly Come Dancing TV show. She was there watching news presenter Dan Walker participate. Nicolas’s ex-husband was also there, he is married to a TV actress from a popular soap drama, taking part. Nichola’s ex-husband and sister all know each other, photos showing them back-stage with ITV presenter Dan Walker.

(This story is pretty confused so forgive me for any inaccuracy of ‘rumours circulating’ and thus being picked up online!)

ITV presenter Dan Walker is almost killed during a bike ride on the following Sunday morning, the same morning Nicola is discovered.

(News media run a story of Dan with blood on his face sitting in a hospital bed)

The ’Hunted’ Reality TV show for Channel 4 was filmed at the caravan site a few years earlier – being the last known location of Nicola seen by witnesses.

(Reported on Twitter & YouTube in various places)

Nicola’s Partner businesses, their dealings with the Aerospace industry, with engineering, with insurances and mortgages, their bankruptcies, and the locations of their businesses being out of the area they live. They worked from home (like many people) which gave them flexibility. Part of their daily routine was apparently to take turns running the children to school in the morning and picking them up later on.

It was reported that best friend Emma made online searches and contacted True Crime YouTube influencers for help during the ‘search period’!

The Pin Interest pics of girls – and subsequent reports of hacking partner’s online sites, or vice -versa.

The Famous Diving expert – Social media push for him to get involved for free and now vilify him for not finding Nichola, after saying ‘If she’s in that River, I’ll find her. I can categorically say she was not in that river!’

(The expert now dropped from crime professionals list by Police and publicly disgraced. The expert’s book launch and subsequent meetings with family – claiming he was not being told full history by them.)

Police not revealing then ultimately revealing too much information about Nicola, forcing them to change the officers in charge, twice, one detective being joked about due to her attire (tight fitting dress and makeup).

Helicopters and drones – but NO road closures, or sealing off, or cordoning off of the areas by Police. This allowed sightseers and amateur sleuths to walk all over the ‘possible crime scene’! Tik Tokers walking the route, searching, and digging.

Police continued to state that Nicola fell into the River Wyre, but then changed their comments to say that they believed several scenarios could have taken place. The family publicly stated that they had now disagreed with this, although Police kept to their working hypothesis that she fell in the river.

Sky News chief anchor Kay Burley walking the route, talking to people, meeting witnesses and reporting live from the scene.

True crime gurus discover two previous missing persons cases from the same location.

Not clear answer yet as to the drowning/suicide/or murder angle – Police give no further press conference.

The Coroner to release full findings in June 2023, with outcome of forensics and ‘further investigations’ taken after autopsy etc.

On 9^th March, it was reported a man has been arrested over footage shot from inside a police cordon (!) on the day the body of Nicola Bulley was found in the River Wyre.

“The 34-year-old man from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences and perverting the course of justice in connection with the investigation to find Ms Bulley. The arrest relates to footage taken from inside a police cordon on 19 February and later posted online.”

It was further reported that ‘the man from Kidderminster’ has been talking to witnesses, the sister of Nicola Bulley, and her friend Emma. What will he discover whilst getting under the feet of detectives. Someone was digging in the woods at the beginning of the case, in flagrant violation of police pleas for people not to do so but applauded by the public for being ‘proactive’. Was this the same person with a YouTube channel and huge number of clocks, viewed thousands of times, or was it one of the True Crime podcasters that descended on the area?

Today, 11^th April, we hear the following from authorities, after weeks of silence…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11960259/Police-divers-return-river-Nicola-Bulleys-body-found.html

“Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire, has asked Lancashire Police to return to the water for investigative work to help confirm her cause of death and what happened before she was found in the reeds on February 20.

 A senior national police source, with experience of similar cases, told MailOnline that the decision to send divers back in shows how seriously the investigation is being taken.

 'The coroner clearly wants more answers and potential evidence', the insider added.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fabelmans (2022)

 

(Some spoilers) ... From the moment the screen lights up, Spielberg lets us know immediately what ‘The Fabelmans’ is. It’s a fable. It’s a story about a family that falls apart for various reasons, and how our young protagonist Sam ‘Sammy’ Fabelman, (loosely based on a young Spielberg, and played effortlessly by TV actor Gabriel LaBelle) sees, and ultimately deals with the truth of life witnessed through the lens of his various cameras. 

We meet Sammy at age 6 when he’s taken by mum and dad to the ‘moving pictures’ for the first time. They’re about to watch Cecil B. DeMille’s ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ (1952). A reluctant Sammy is persuaded into the cinema by his father Burt (Paul Dano) who explains things in scientific jargon, while his mother Mitzi (Michelle Williams) appeals more to his senses. This, we’re told, is the catalyst which sends Fabelman (Spielberg) off down the road to Hollywood.

As Sammy grows, he takes inspiration and courage watching his family, though mostly apathetic, he’s writing a script to suit his POV. The Fabelmans is not the Spielberg film you expect, despite the by-lines that its semi-autobiographic. Yes, it’s Spielberg’s passion project, his most personal film, and perhaps his most intimate movie and … yadda yadda yadda… to use a well-worn-out Yiddish phrase so beloved of Hollywood. It’s all those things, but is it the truth? You can guess at the real story if you like, there are clues scattered throughout, hinting to anyone who cares to question a little deeper. It’s a truth he’d like you to believe.

Let’s be honest here, Spielberg wants to be honest after all, he wants the audience to see what it was like growing up for arguably the world’s most famous contemporary director. For example, he wants you to see how he envied his Christian neighbours as a child, not because of ‘Jesus’, but because he coveted their Christmas fairy lights, which turn up later in the movie, in full-blown, slightly hilarious, sacrilegious glory. When asked by his mother what he wants for Hannukah, among other things, he asks for fairy lights.

Talking of magic, the cast is enchanting as Spielberg rarely gets this wrong, and Michelle Williams as Sammy’s very patient mother is a standout, deserving her Oscar nom. In fact, the entire cast is wonderful, dare I say, even the uncle that’s not really an ‘uncle,’ Bennie (Seth Rogan)!

Spielberg reveals his inspiration for some of the big hits, but strangely only a little sci-fi.  Jaws is blaringly obvious, even 1941, ET and Schindler’s List, are here, ‘Hollywood’ heroes old and new, annoying little sisters, you name it, they’re in here somewhere. There is plenty of shameless name dropping of all the corporations, and government projects, his father worked on, going some way to explaining why the family did so much moving across the country during the 50s and 60s.

Although I liked the film for its subject, I found it overly long, and far too slow, with some scenes really dragging during the first half, – so slowly in fact, that you think you’re watching some European art film on BBC4 (sorry to BBC4 viewers). Counterbalance this and intersperse it with shorter scenes of pure genius; I wouldn’t have paid the ticket for a Spielberg movie experience otherwise. 

Sorry Steven for what I’m about to say. I don’t want to be downbeat about your film, it’s a great film for fans, and those with a love of filmmaking in general, or the history of cinema, perhaps also those who are looking for answers into why their dysfunctional family broke down, The high-school scenes are genuinely brilliant, but this is not really the movie I want to watch. I’ve never ever said that about a Spielberg film before. Go see it and tell me I’m wrong.