Ritz Cinema
Station Road,
Wigan,
WN1
Station Road,
Wigan,
WN1
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This Art Moderne style gem was open for 60 years(1938-1997). It closed due to the building of a new and devoid of character multiplex, and was subsequently demolished.
Contributed by
SAMANTHA COLLINGS
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
The Ritz Cinema opened on 7th March 1938 and was part of a building project already begun by Union Cinemas, taken over by ABC Cinemas.
It was re-named ABC Wigan in March 1962 and closed on 28th May 1977 for tripling in the circle with bingo in the former stalls area. The 3 cinemas ABC 1,2 and 3 opened on 27th October 1977 with seating capacities of 485, 321 and 106. They were closed by ABC on 5th March 1983.
They re-opened as the Ritz Cinema (by an independent) on 4th January 1985 and were successful until a new Virgin multiplex opened in the town and despite cutting prices to attract more patrons, the Ritz closed on 10th April 1997.
Sadly, the building was not deemed worthy of being granted a Listed status and was demolished in 2002.
Exterior photo here:-
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/214954192/
Photo’s I took in 2004, the year before demolition:
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Additional photos of the former Ritz can be seen here.
The Ritz Cinema awating demolition in January 2005:
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