ABC Blackpool
130-140 Church Street,
Blackpool,
FY1 3PR
130-140 Church Street,
Blackpool,
FY1 3PR
5 people
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Showing 26 - 37 of 37 comments
The opening show in 1963 at the new Church Street ABC Theatre was in fact called ‘Holiday Carnival’.
The ABC Princess wasn’t on the Promenade, and was opposite the Metropole Hotel (not Theatre), whose front was on the Promenade.
???? It was devided up in 1981 before the Cannon Takeover.. The First Manager was Bob Parsons followed by Chadwick from memory I used to work for the Real ABC co., before going Independent
Sorry…but the ABC theatre was NEVER known as the Princess. The ABC Princess was on the promenade opposite the Metropole Theatre and had no stage facilities of any kind. The ABC in Church Street was formerly the Hippodrome, and the openinmg show was Summer Holiday starring Cliff and the Shadows. I know this to be true because I was the Co-Chief Projectionist/Lighting Engineer at the time. The ABC eventually ended up in the hands of Cannon and was then divided up into one major screen in the old Circle, and 2/3 under the neath in the stall. It eventaully ended up as a Nite Club / Disco.
What a shame that this venue is no longer operating as a cinema or theatre.
My first visit here was in either 1971 or 1973 while on a coach trip from the Welsh valleys to see the Blackpool Illuminations. At that time the venue was known as the ABC Princess and during our visit the ABC was in use for live performances although movies were being advertised in the foyer as future attractions once the Summer/Autumn season was over with.
Our visit was to see a stage show with starring Cilla Black. To us valley types at that time the auditorium was pure luxury and the stage presentation exceptional at that time. To me it would have been unthinkable to convert the venue from one auditorium to split screens. The facade was certainly late sixties and appeared to be covering the original structure.
Thankyou abcman. Looking at your pics of the operahouse, you are, of course, quite right – it WAS a long time ago, after all. However, I DID see a summer show at the ABC, but now can’t remember who it was for the life of me!
Pictures and other material relating to the original Hippodrome/ABC theater: View link
Sorry Keith, but Brucie & Millie appeared at the Opera House not the ABC otherwise I agree with what you say.
I attended a summer show at the ABC on one occasion, featuring Bruce Forsyth and Millicent Martin. My opinion of both of them increased dramatically as a result.
Tony Hancock took over from Mike and Bernie Winters as compere of the weekly tv variety show at the ABC Theatre, but he was on the wane by this time and did not fare very well – Bruce Forsyth took over from him for a few shows.
I actually think this clip is very funny…………………….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXe2pzOA8Yw
A vintage photograph of the ABC Theatre, taken in September 1963, four months after opening:
View link
Photographed in colour in 1969:
View link