ABC Yeovil

Court Ash Terrace,
Yeovil, BA20 1HG

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., Cannon Cinemas, Classic Cinemas (UK), MGM Theatres, Odeon Theatres Ltd., Rank Organisation, Virgin Cinemas

Architects: Budge Reid, Harry W. Weedon

Firms: Harry W. Weedon Partnership

Functions: Café, Retail

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Odeon, Classic, Cannon, MGM, Virgin

Nearby Theaters

Odeon Cinema Yeovil

Located in Yeovil, Somerset. One of the original Odeon’s built for and operated by the Oscar Deutsch chain of Odeon Theatres Ltd. The Odeon opened on 10th May 1937 with George Formby in "Keep Your Seats Please". Although located in the town centre, the Odeon was hidden away up a narrow side street. Designed by Budge Reid working out of the Harry Weedon Partnership office, the exterior is impressive, but a little ‘boxy’. The façade is clad in cream faience tiles, and there is a large fin tower jutting out of the centre of the façade, which contained the Odeon name on top.

Inside the auditorium, seating was provided for 978 in the stalls and 602 in the circle. The interior decoration was by interior designers Mollo & Egan, and lighting was by a Holophane system over the proscenium and on splay walls beside the proscenium. This consisted of a mass of small circular dishes, which were lit by a three colour lighting system, that was changeable. There were also troughs containing concealed lighting in the ceiling, again with Holophane lighting.

The Odeon was sold by the Rank Organisation to the Classic Cinemas chain in around 1972, and it was re-named Classic Cinema. Classic Cinemas had previously purchased the former Gaumont Yeovil in November 1967, and that had been renamed Classic Cinema. When the Odeon was taken over, the Classic name was transferred from the Gaumont/Classic to the Odeon, and the Gaumont/Classic became a Vogue Bingo Club.

The Classic Cinema was tripled in November 1972, with 600 seats in the former circle screen and two 400-seat screens in the former stalls area. In the 1980’s it was taken over by the Cannon Group and re-named Cannon, later taken over by MGM, then by the Virgin Cinemas chain and re-named yet again. On 2nd May 1996 it was taken over by the ABC chain, and re-named ABC.

The ABC was closed on Easter Sunday in April 2002, when the new 10-screen Cineworld multiplex opened in the town. The former Odeon was converted into ‘The Old Cinema Bed & Sofa Store’ which opened on 3rd January 2004 They moved out of the building in February 2015. In August 2015 it became a charity shop for St, Margaret’s Hospice and the former circle foyer was converted into a café. Externally, the building remains as built in 1937, though without signage. Most of the internal decoration has been retained.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on December 3, 2010 at 10:23 am

A picture of the former ABC Yeovil: http://tinyurl.com/39qkhhn

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 3, 2010 at 11:33 am

A set of photographs of the Odeon Yeovil:
View link

ODEONesque
ODEONesque on July 25, 2013 at 6:34 am

This is a lovely ex cinema and its so nice to see that so much of the decor has been retained. If ever I get to take my coach that way Ive just got to visit this.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 3, 2021 at 11:25 am

Grand opening ad posted.

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