ABC Wimbledon
144 The Broadway,
London,
SW19
144 The Broadway,
London,
SW19
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The Elite Picture Palace opened on 7th February 1920. It was designed by architect Lt. Col. James E. Adamson. The name ‘Elite’ was enscribed in stone at the top of the building and the brick and stone facade had a semi-circular ‘bow’ shaped extension in the centre which contained the main entrance and windows above. Inside the auditorium seating was provided for 1,005. There was a small organ which was manufactured by a company named Reeves.
In 1925 a new organ was installed, a Christie 3Manual/7Rank theatre organ, which was opened by Steff Langston. In 1928 the cinema was enlarged to the plans of architect Robert Cromie and it now had an increase of 280 extra seats giving a total seating capacity of 1,285 when it re-opened in September 1928.
In February 1930 it was taken over by the small Lou Morris chain of cinemas and closed for re-decoration in July 1931, re-opening on 3rd August 1931 with Claudette Colbert in “Manslaughter”. In October 1935, the Elite Cinema was sold to the large chain of Associated British Cinemas (ABC).
ABC closed the Elite in mid-summer 1964 and the auditorium was completely re-constructed to the plans of their house architect C.J. Foster. Metal cladding was attached to the facade and the central ‘bow’ section was given a glazed appearance. It re-opened as the ABC on 12th September 1964 with Cliff Richard in “Wonderful Life”. Seating was now provided for 1,030.
The ABC closed on 26th February 1983 with Richard Gere in “An Officer and a Gentleman”. The building was boarded up and was eventually demolished during March-May 1985.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Ken,
Am I right in remembering this cinema being almost opposite the Odeon? Are there any pictures of it anywhere, as I remember the metal cladding, but don’t recall the glazed middle bit.
Thanks ,
D
Doolally; Yes the Elite/ABC was almost opposite the Odeon (ex Regal). There is a small, rather bad reproduction photograph of the Elite Picture House in the book “The Amber Valley Gazeteer of Greater London’s Suburban Cinemas 1946-86” by Malcolm Webb. Published in 1986
WOW ! I have been searching a while now, and this is the closest I’ve come. Born in Wimbledon in 1974, I can clearly remember my childhood and the old (elite) A.B.C cinema. I was scared of that metal clad building as a child, but the memories of what it actually looked like are fading. I cannot believe there are no archive pictures anywhere ! I remember the queue which went on for miles to see Jaws and my parents did not want to wait – perhaps I was too young and they used that as an excuse. Perhaps someone has an old snap in the bottom of a wardrobe somewhere.
Sid Deeks was the Chief Projectionist at the ABC Wimbledon during the early 1960’s. I worked there for a year after being promoted to Junior 2nd projectionist from the ABC Streatham. Here is a link to a few projection rooms ‘Boxes’ I worked in. The Elite’s projection room is among them as you scroll down the page. View link
Well im glad im not going crazy. I remember this cinema as a child of the 70,s and yes it was opposite the odeon. They both did well to last as they did considering the close proximity to each other. When i ask people i know if they remember this cinema most cant recall it.
Mind you also growing up in Wimbledon a lot of it has sadly changed up now, like everywhere these days. Still it was a great cinema while it lasted (i too went to see jaws there), oh happy days.
Heres to all those great cinemas that have gone, that gave us so many good times.
A set of vintage photographs of the Elite/ABC:
View link
My late mother worked at the ABC Elite in Wimbledon in the fifties. She came to this Country from Ireland and encountered a lot of anti-Irish sentiment. The manager of the ABC Elite, Mr Riddeford,liked the Irish and employed my mother as an Usherette. He then trained her to work in the Box Office. My mother often spoke of the people with whom she worked at the Elite with great fondness – Miss Casey, a relief manager, Mrs. Cohen who ran the kiosk, and Stan the Doorman. My mother made friends with a part time worker, Christine and they remained friends for donkey’s years after they left the Elite.