Also known as Regal Cinema, Cannon
ABC Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
Ward's End
,
Halifax, West Yorkshire,
England,
United Kingdom HX1
(
map)
 Recent exterior view of the ABC Halifax, during its conversion into a nightclub (circa August 2002)Photo courtesy of Ian Grundy
Designed by WIlliam R. Glen (ABC's house architect), the Regal was a particularly fine cinema with 1,250 seats in the stalls and 668 in the balcony. A shallow stage was provided and four dressing rooms. The proscenium was wide and surrounded by an elaborate plaster fretwork concealing ventilation ducts. On either side were niches containing tall slender figurines which were not dis-similar to the 'Oscar' statues.
The cinema was tripled in 1976 (having been renamed ABC in 1961) and reopened on 12 September with 670 in screen 1, the original circle using the original unaltered screen, and 200 and 173 seats in screens 2 & 3 situated under the balcony.
Renamed Cannon and then back to ABC the cinema closed suddenly in 2002 having been bought for use as a nightclub.
Fortunately it was designated a Grade II Listed building in 2000. This has ensured that all elements of the original (it had survived basically intact) are to be preserved. English Heritage described it as 'Long curved stone exterior. A handsome surviving classical auditorium. One of the best of the few surviving original ABC auditoria'. However the construction of the nightclub, using the stalls area only, will effectively conceal all trace of the original design. The circle will not be used at all. What a waste!
Work on the insertion of the nightclub began in the Summer of 2002.
Contributed by Ian Grundy
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derek atkins(public relations officer mercia cinema society).