ABC Ionic Golders Green

The Ionic opened with a seating capacity of 562. It closed on 30th September 1999 (seating had been reduced to 518)

Why did the Ionic close? Did Sainsbury's have plans to redevelop the entire site?

At the time of closure, it was stated that Sainsbury's supermarket wanted the cinema space for themselves to expand the store. This never happened and the cinema section remains boarded up today.

It originally opened on 25th August 1975 as the Ionic Cinema. The final fim screened was Tom Cruise in "Eyes Wide Shut".

Photographed as the Cannon Ionic in the Summer of 1994:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/138342204/

The old and new Ionic cinemas were owned by the late John Davies (who also owned the Florida and Premier Cinema's at Enfield, and the Florida and Corner Cinema's at Tottenham). I got to know Mr. Davies slightly, as the Premier at Enfield was my local cinema and he very generously let me have the projectors after the cinema closed. He told me that the new Ionic above the supermarket was the cinema of which he was most proud. I was very surprised, as he always struck me as having a soft spot for his older properties. But, at the end of the day, he was a business man first.

Another exterior photo of the Ionic (around 1982 - scanned image) here :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/213335300/

I'm interested in the mention of the Premier Cinema, Enfield which belonged to my grandfather (may have been built by him) William Grenfell from the 1920s until his death in 1944. Has anyone further information about it?

Hi Nette

I have only just seen your post! As per my post above, the Premier was my local. I have done some research on it going back to its opening in the twenties and have a collection of photos inside and out taken while it was a bingo hall, though it had hardly changed from its cinema days. Even the screen and tabs were still there. If you are interested, I am happy for you to contact me on kevin@wheelan.freeserve.co.uk and to let you have what info I have and pictures. Please head your email PREMIER CINEMA, so that it does not end up with the hundreds of spam emails, which I get on a daily basis! Kind regards. Kevin

september 2003 with part of the frontage revealing where the IONIC sign once was
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/223126793/
same view a couple of years later with Sainsburys now occupying the ground floor area where the cinema lobby once was
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/245822549/

This is an April 2003 photo.

I tried to keep the Ionic open.However Sainsburys just wrent interested.They were going to use it as as a health club.However this never materialised.The foyer is part of the store .The cinema in the basement is empty.Anothere xample of a big chain store getting their way against the wishes of the community.

So true.

My brother who is in the Health club business said he visited a location i think in LOUISVILLE.KY. that was a like a six plex that was also a spa/Health club. So watch a movie and work out.Only in the states i guess,Orpheum.

A shame that there don't seem to be any photos of the Ionic in its heyday in the 50's and 60's. I remember my mum taking me there on a number of occasions - most notably to see Danny Kaye in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.

i have seen photos of the exterior but not of the interior.It was a beautiful cinema.If you were sitting in the stalls you had to make sure that you did not sit anywhere near the supporting beams that would obscure your view.What has happened to this building and its successor are a stark example of the almighty power of the supermarket chains to get their way and the craven cowering attitude of local councils,the planners and councillors.Thier needs are more important than those of the nlocal residents.Golders Green which once had 4 cinemas now has none.Not unusual but no less sad for all that.If it existed today i think that it would be at least listed as 2*.However such is progress.

If there are any photos of the original cinema, I'd be grateful if someone would point me to the relevant website. And orpheum, I totally agree with your sentiments regarding local council planning committees. I suppose you could argue that the pressure from multi-billion pound conglomerates puts them under intolerable pressure - but, inner city vandalism, in the shape of outsize, ugly buildings, has been going on for years. It was pointed out to me some time ago that the famous Euston Arch would be listed Grade 11 if in fact it still existed. That may be so, but beautiful buildings are still being torn down at a rate of knots. Even where they aren't particularly beautiful, any replacements are usually far to big and completely out of keeping with the surrounding structures. The Arts Depot in Finchley is a gross and rather extreme example.