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Home » Theater Guide » Location » United Kingdom » England » Ipswich, Suffolk » ABC Ipswich
Also known as Ritz Cinema

ABC Ipswich

Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Buttermarket
, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom IP1 1DZ
(map)
Status: Closed/Demolished
Screens: Triplex
Style: Art Deco
Function: Unknown
Seats: 1689
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Robert Cromie
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
The Ritz Cinema was next to the Ancient House in the Buttermarket. Built for the Union Cinemas chain, it was opened on 4th January 1937 with "Three Maxims", a film starring Anna Neagle, who appeared on the opening night to officially open the cinema.

The Ritz Cinema had a 50 feet wide proscenium and a 12 feet deep stage with four dressing rooms. It was equipped with a 3Manual/8Ranks Wurlitzer organ (with grand piano attached) that was opened by noted organist Harold Ramsey. The Ritz Cinema also contained a cafe. It was taken over by Associated British Cinema(ABC) in October 1937 and they operated it through the remainder of its life.

It was re-named ABC in 1962 and was closed in March 1973 to be converted into a triple screen. ABC 2 (in the former balcony) opened on 21st May 1973 with 445 seats and ABC's 1 & 3 opened in the former stalls areas on 18th June 1973 with 544 & 133 seats. It was at this time that the Wurlitzer organ was removed for spare parts.

The ABC chain were taken over by EMI in the 1980's and it was decided to close the ABC on 5th April 1986. It was demolished in 1988 to make way for the new British Home Stores and part of the Buttermarket Shopping Centre.
Contributed by Andrew Collins, Ken Roe

YOUR COMMENTS

 
A vintage postcard view of Buttermarket from possibly the late-1940's:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30013959@N05/2826313004/
A zoomed-in view of the above:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/1351960812/
A colour postcard from 1979:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30013959@N05/2826300432/
A close-up of the Ritz Cinema entrance in 1937:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/2580994046/
The ABC as a single screen in November 1962:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/2786142623/
As a triple screen in June 1963:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/3335535808/
Foyer in June 1973:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/3365907292/
ABC Screen 2 in June 1973:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcinemaphotos/3362411561/
posted by KenRoe on Apr 7, 2009 at 7:19am
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