Guide and Virtual Tour of Leeds: O2 Academy, Coliseum Building, Cookridge Street.
Panorama | Review | Map and 45º Aerial View
The O2 Academy, formerly The Town and Country Club, formerly the Coliseum, first opened it's doors in October 1992 and has since played host to many high profile acts including; INXS, Blur, Mark Knopfler, Jack Dee and The Stone Roses. The Town and Country Club closed as a major Leeds music venue at the end of the 20th Century.
King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (the Prince and Princess of Wales) opened the venue in July 1885, at this time the Coliseum was a music hall and indoor circus. During 1906, Sydney Carter, who had been hiring the hall for short-season runs of Moving Picture shows, became so successful that he bought the building.
The Leonardo Building - Cookridge Street North British Animated Films continued to screen films at the Coliseum from 1907 until 1938 when the company was taken over by Gaumont Ltd, with this the name changed to the Gaumont - Coliseum. With the advent of television, the popularity of cinema declined, in 1961 the Coleseum became a bingo hall until it's closure in 1969. The building had been bought by Leeds Corporation and was awaiting demolition, however the building became listed granting it a stay of execution. A television production company purchased the premises with high hopes of creating a Hollywood in Leeds, according to the Yorkshire Post. Sadly this was not to be, the Coleseum, almost entirely stripped of it's once glamorous interior, lay dormant until rediscovered by Brendan Croker. Croker introduced his close friend Ollie Smith (director of the Town and Country Club in London) to the venue and, after extensive refurbishment, the venue was reopened in October 1992. A continual programme of upgrading and renewal is in place and will continue for the next three years. Once again this historic Leeds building hosts some of the finest entertainment in the country and will continue to do so for many years.
This panorama was photographed during major building works to the Leeds Institute (Civic Theatre) which is directly behind us. The Institute was founded in 1824, the present building was constructed in 1865 - designed by Cuthbert Broderick. The previous year the buildings opposite (now 'Zacks Bar!) were completed.
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You are viewing panorama No.13 (O2 Academy, Coliseum Building, Cookridge Street), one of 166 Virtual Reality 360 degree views of Leeds.
Map and aerial view of Leeds showing the location of
O2 Academy, Coliseum Building, Cookridge Street at Latitude 53.80168518518519 / Longitude -1.5472962962962808.
We have visited Leeds on a number of occasions to produce this tour, this page was created on Fri, 6 Jan 2012 18:18:15 +0000.
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