ABC Cardiff

Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales

Queen Street

, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom CF1 4AT

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Triplex
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1085
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Howard Williams
Firm:	Unknown

The ABC (Olympia) Cinema originally opened in 1912 as Andrews Hall. It later became know as the Olympia when talking pictures arrived in the early 1930s.

At this time the cinema was still run by the Andrews Family of Cardiff until around 1935 when it was leased to Associated British Cinemas Limited who modernised the cinema, but still retaining its huge capacity in stalls and balcony of around 2000.

In the early 1960s the cinema was refitted and made-over for 70mm films on its huge 58 foot Cinemascope screen. Projection was from under the balcony using DP70/35 projectors with a direct throw to the screen.

The prime location in the centre of the main shopping area in Cardiff made this a very busy cinema and long runs of films often played here.

The final film to show in the cinema was "Jaws", and after a three-month run of the film, the cinema closed in 1976 for conversion to a three-screen complex. After completion, Screen 1 in the original circle area seated 617, Screens 2 and 3 in the former stalls area seating 318 and 150, new projection rooms were also fitted to serve Screen 1 and a combined projection room was fitted to serve Screen 2 and 3, all equiped with Phillips Projectors. The cinema was now known as the ABC Queen Street Cardiff.

In 1986 the cinema was retitled Cannon, and in 1991 retitled MGM, converting back to its original name of ABC in 1996.

With the opening of the five-screen Capitol Odeon and the UCI multiplex in Cardiff Bay, and with plans for two further multiplexes in the city, ABC finally made the decision to close the cinema in 1999, the prime location making it more viable for other retail purposes.

Contributed by Peter 123

YOUR COMMENTS

I was there in the early sixties when it was converted to show Todd AO 70mm films. The excitement of being involved with the conversion as a lowly third projectionist has stayed with me 'til now. After the conversion we openned with the 35mm 4 track mag sound copy of THe Nuns Story which ran for a season, This was followed by Oklahoma! In my book a new genre of film projection had started.
Sadly, all has gone now and no sign of the cinema remains.
I would also like to mention the dedicated team I worked with
Chief Frank Saunders
Second Ernie Brown
Second Ken Harvey
Third John Williams and of course myself
Mike Williams

posted by Mike Williams on Nov 10, 2005 at 4:19am

I visited this cinema many times from the late 1950's onwards, and recall the installation of the new screen and curtains, when the old curtain was used to hide the builders scaffolding during the work.The curtains were extended along the side walls before the 70mm showing of "My Fair Lady" which exploited the very large screen and well-sited projection room to the full.
Unfortunately in mid 1966 the decision was taken to reduce the size of the screen. The masking came down and the screen widened by a very small amount for the showing of "The Moving Target" and everything subsequently shown in 'Scope.

The triple-screen ABC was a very disappointing experience from an audience point of view and little modernisation or improvement took place in later years.

A number of architects plans for the major reconstruction in 1935 which utilised the shell of the former Andrews Hall,and installed the circle, have been preserved in the local archive.

posted by Element54 on Oct 22, 2006 at 8:54am

Photo (exterior) dating from 1989 here:-

http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/328111256/

posted by Ian on Dec 21, 2006 at 5:46am

The Olympia name appears on an advert dated 1911 reproduced in a local history book, and was used in press advertising e.g. for a "Kinemacolor" show.

posted by Element54 on Aug 26, 2007 at 10:41am

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