Scarborough Odeon – 90 Years

Scarborough’s Odeon Cinema – 90 years old in 2026

Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre, positioned opposite the town’s history railway station, is located in the former Odeon cinema building, which opened 90 years ago in March 1936.

When it opened, the Odeon included ground floor shops and a café on the first floor.

The building retains much of its magnificent frontage, including a large canopy to the front, the main tower (or fin) and buff-coloured tiles. 

Anyone who visited the cinema before it became the SJT will recall the large auditorium, the smoking and non-smoking seats and the steep stairs!

The auditorium had 1,711 seats (946 in the main stalls and 765 in the balcony).

It remained as a cinema until 1988 with the SJT taking over the building about a year afterwards.

The building has Grade II Listed Building status. 

You can find out more here.

If you love Scarborough, read my blog about Scarborough Lighthouse.