Built on the site of the Theatre Royal (1813-1937, architect J. Foulston), the Royal Cinema was built for and operated by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) and was designed by their in-house architect William Riddle Glen.
The Royal Cinema opened on 15th July 1938 with Katherine Hepburn in "Stage Door" and Cesar Romero in "Dangerously Yours". It is a handsome building externally and is faced in white Portland stone. Originally it had a seating capacity of 2,404 (1,564 in the stalls and 840 in the circle). It had a well detailed Art Deco style scheme, typical of Glen's style of design. The Royal Cinema was equipped with a Compton 3Manual/8Rank organ with a Melotone unit and an illuminated console, that was opened by Wilfred Southworth, and was considered to be the finest organ to be installed in an ABC cinema. There was a fully equipped stage and dressing rooms.
The Royal Cinema was re-named ABC from 28th April 1958 following a renovation. Live stage shows (pop shows) were held here during the 1960's and the last time the stage was used was for a Morcambe & Wise comedy show. The ABC closed on 30th October 1976 for conversion into a triple-screen cinema and bingo club. The final films in the original single auditorium were ""The Likely Lads" and "Steptoe and Son".
The triple-screen ABC opened on 5th May 1977 with seating for 583, 380 and 112. The Compton organ was retained in the bingo club located in the stalls area, but it was hardly ever used. ABC Cinemas passed to the Cannon Group, then to MGM from 22nd May 1992. A management buy-out brought the name ABC back again in the mid-1990's. The Gala Bingo Club closed in early 2006 having re-located to a newly built building and the Compton organ was removed from this part of the building, to be re-installed in the Blackheath Halls in South-East London. The cinemas continued and from 1st August 2006 have been operated by the independent Reel Cinemas chain. Apparently this is on a short lease, and it was announced that the cinema would close on 2nd October 2008. However, this was halted and the cinema continues on a reprieve, under independent management.
Contributed by Ken Roe
|
|
Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!
|
http://www.flickr.com/photos/webrarian/552914714/
A vintage photograph of the ABC in 1972:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/2262258691/
Photographed as the Cannon in 1991:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/243166511/
Circle foyer in 1991:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/243166510/