Final curtain for cinema due to Sue and her wrecking ball

For years, Horsham's Odeon cinema was the place to go to see the latest offerings from Hollywood '“ until it met its end thanks to a wrecking ball and a woman named Sue.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Feb 2016, 15:56 BST
Updated 19th Feb 2016, 07:36 BST

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Something of an unseemly demise for a building which brought the town the likes of Citizen Kane, Rebel Without A Cause and The Godfather.

These pictures were published in the County Times in 1982 and show the demolition of the old cinema which, in its later days, was used as a bingo hall.

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The chance to swing the wrecking ball was offered in a competition dreamed up by Horsham Gymnastics Club – but only three people bothered to enter.

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Sue Bowden was the winner and, accompanied by her four-year-old son, Mark, headed along to the site to don her hard hat and take the controls of the crane.

The County Times report stated: “Mrs Bowden climbed into the crane’s cab and, after a crash course with the levers from demolition expert Bill Lewis, she scored a direct hit at the first attempt and impressively large chunks of masonry came crashing down to the ground.

“In further sallies, she succeeded in bringing down a lot more wall, the odd door or two and a whopping great water tank.”

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And how did Sue feel about her afternoon of destruction? She said: “It was fantastic! I thought of all the people I hate being up on that wall!”

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Clearly not a woman to be messed with!

The Odeon was opened on Wednesday October 7 1936 with a showing of Little Lord Fauntleroy, starring Freddie Bartholomew.

It was later sold and, on December 9 1967, was re-named the Classic Cinema.

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Related topics:OdeonHollywood