ABC Leeds
Vicar Lane,
Leeds,
LS2 7NL
Vicar Lane,
Leeds,
LS2 7NL
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 19 comments
What happened to Jimmy Gold the general manager at the opening of the twin cinema?
Omitted from the main overview is the fact that in 1959 ‘Todd AO’ was installed. The huge concave screen and tabs were positioned forward of the original proscenium.
Unusually, the Compton organ at this time was retained even though the orchestra pit and console were now concealed by a carpeted ‘semi reverse’ rake forward of the front stalls crossover. On the occasions when the organ was played a sliding hatch had to be used before the organ lift was operated…….
ABC transferred the festoon curtain (from the old pros) to the ABC Ritz Barnsley and it was used for all performances there whilst the draw house tabs were then only used at the beginning and the end of the day.
I think this was the cinema built by my Grandfather, Herbert Stevens. Having opened one of the first ‘talkie’ cinemas in Grimsby/Hull he was brought over by management to oversee The Ritz’s construction and subsequently ran it until his retirement in the mid 50’s. He was always immensely proud of the fact that the cinema was built on schedule and under budget and he loved the place. Of course he always went to work in white tie and tails as most cinema managers did, I think, in those days. I wonder if anyone has anymore information they could give me? Vicki Fairfax Melbourne Australia
ABC 1 with 670 seats was situated in the former circle area and ABC 2 with 867 occupied the stalls. The later subdivision of the latter ruined the whole of the downstairs seating area.
i used to love this cinema growing up in the 80’s at least the ticket prices were decent no hyper inflated costs like it is today the best film i have seen there was masters of the universe in 87 it was great especialy at the end where dolph lundgren said i have the power every one stood up cheering and applauding in ovation it was electric but the cinema paid the price for govermental capital by knocking it down for an shopping complex that the site is now owned by john lewis part of leeds transformation project but what fun it was at the cinema.
frankie (cool rider) smales
frankie smales tv and movie review uk
Have load 3 pictures of ABC..
Multi-photographed portfolio of ABC Vicar Lane photographs on the Leeds Library and Information project ‘Leodis’. Most photographs in relation to the nearby expressway construction in the late 1960’s; but more recent, dormant, photos from the mid-2000’s.
www.leodis.net Easy way in is using the Advanced Search facility right from the word go, linked immediately under the main heading. Then just search for ‘ABC’ in the Keyword space. Don’t touch any of the other drop-downs!
The ABC was at the end of Vicar lane next to the A64 ring road.The last time i was down there they hadn’t built anything it was just empty waste ground!!! what a shame and a waste.I loved that place far too many good memories to mention.
Whereabouts on Vicar Lane was the ABC? Whats replaced it?
A set of four vintage photographs of the ABC:
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Always a good cinema to relieve when I was in ABC Cinema management as it was always a busy house. Use to enjoy working in the Advance Booking Office there.
A few pictures from 1986 here:–
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photos taken (i think) in 2001
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2121480102/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/2120699815/
Thanks for posting the pics of the cinemas in their last sorry state; if there had been one cinema in Leeds I would love to have seen resurrected it would have been the ABC. Many happy times spent there, especially in the small cinemas with the strangely positioned aisles and bizarre sound.
There are more pics here:
http://photos.jml.net/c877488.html
Taken by myself on 28th February – some structural evidence of the stalls and stage still there (the stage-side is still definitely in place), but now no roof and a huge hole in the front. Interior is pretty much all rubble now.
Below are links to two pages on flickr. I took lots of pictures during the strip out in December 2005. It’s very sad as the building was certainly not in a bad condition.
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Two pictures of demolition here:–
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Very sad to see the same thing happening in England as in the USA.
A February 2005 photo of the abandoned ABC Leeds. Note the 1959 era panels that have fallen off revealing the original facade underneath.
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