ABC Boscombe

Boscombe, Dorset, England

677 Christchurch Road

, Boscombe, Dorset, England, United Kingdom BH7 6AA

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Oriental

Function:	Bar
Seats:	1650
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Reynolds & Tomlin

The Carlton Super Cinema was located in the Boscombe district, close to Bournemouth. It was built by an independent company, but was taken over on completion by Associated British Cinemas(ABC). It opened on 27th July 1931 with Dorothy Mackail in "Once a Sinner" and George O'Brien in "Fair Warning".

Designed by architects Reynolds & Tomlin in an Oriental Chinese style, the light fittings in the auditorium were said to by a particular feature. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. The proscenium was 30 feet wide and a cafe provided an additional facility for patrons.

In early-April 1971, it was re-furbished in the stalls area, to become a 'luxury lounge', with new seating installed in this area, and the circle becoming un-used. It re-opened on 29th April 1971, as the ABC with Frankie Howard in "Up Pompeii". The ABC closed on 10th July 1974 with Joseph Bottoms in "The Dove".

The building was converted into a bingo club and this use continued until it was closed in 1988. The building then lay empty and derelict for ten years.

The entrance and foyer of the building were converted into a pub for the J.D. Wetherspoon chain. It opened on 19th May 1998 and is known as The Sir Percy Florence Shelly. Sadly the abandoned auditorium lay derelict for several more years and was demolished in around 2002.

Contributed by Ken Roe

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The ABC, photographed in July 1972:
http://flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/2332680011/

posted by KenRoe on Feb 20, 2009 at 8:05am

The auditorium was demolished during the summer and autumn of 2002. Many were glad to see the back of it as it was an "eyesore". It was a sad state of affairs that what was at one time a grand building had been allowed to fall into such a sorry state. It had become a shelter for rough sleepers and a safety hazard. I saw some pictures of how it was on the inside before the demolishion men moved in and gutted it prior to knocking it down. In the former circle there was still rows of seats in place and its unique Oriental style decor was still very much in evidence albeit with peeling paint around the proscenium and walls. Sadly the screen had long since gone but the guy who took the photographs said that there was several pulleys behind the stage, which probably worked the screen tabs - no trace of those either I am sorry to say!

posted by james2003 on Feb 26, 2009 at 2:19am

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ABC Boscombe

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