The Odeon building represents a valid part of our post-war heritage and should not be under threat of demolition. If it had been used for middle-class entertainment in the same way that the Opera House has, we would most likely have a large-scale refurbishment under way by now, partly-funded by the States and partly by donations. Unfortunately, watching moving pictures has always been regarded as a culturally inferior form of entertainment by Jersey's highbrow decision makers, hence they have been quite happy to remain silent while Le Masuriers lets the building slowly rot to the ground.
Would you be able to define what you mean by middle class entertainment in the local context?
Both the JHT and Arts Centre have put forward proposals for the Odeon in recent years. The first as an art gallery the later as a community arts centre. Both failed due to political inertia.
Watching movies is not, IMHO, a low brow activity. Indeed when Cine World came to Jersey with a great fanfare of commitment to the 'community', some siezed upon this and requested that they show some decent films instead of the Hollywood multiplex dross. But guess what. Nobody went and the scheme was ended.
I would argue that Jersey's middle classes are generally culturally ignorant. Made up of comfortably numb finance workers and the endless dross we are forced to ineract with when dealing with government administration.
