Cannon Liverpool
Lime Street,
Liverpool,
L1
Lime Street,
Liverpool,
L1
4 people
favorited this theater
Opened as the Forum Cinema on 16th May 1931, having been designed by William R. Glen and Alfred Ernest Shennan for Associated British Cinemas(ABC) at a cost in excess of 200,000 pounds.
A massive six-storey curved Portland stone facade remains a distinctive and highly prominent feature of Lime Street – one of Liverpools major thoroughfares. The foyer was lined with Italian marble.
The auditorium, in a semi-atmospheric style, depicted Venetian scenes, contains an amazing proscenium treatment consisting of a vast curved canopy over the arch and the side boxes. Indirect light light was a feature, except for a huge ‘sunburst’ light fitting above the balcony.
A shallow stage was provided together with a Compton organ on a lift in front of the stage.
Because of the relatively small width of the site the 1,835 capacity was achieved by having a huge circle containing 750 of the seats.
It was re-named ABC from 17th February 1971 and due to its opulence and excellent location the cinema survived intact until 1982 when it was converted to a three screen operation by installing two mini-cinemas under the balcony seating 272 and 217 seats.
From around 1985 it had been re-named Cannon. It closed on 29th January 1998 with a special screening of Humphrey Bogart in “Casablanca”, when a special admission fee of 50p was charged.
There were proposals to convert the building into a conference centre, but these stalled and the building has stood empty since closing. Latest proposals in late 2007 were to convert it into a ‘boutique’ hotel and supper club, with plans going to Liverpool City Council in July 2008 and if permission is granted work could start in late 2008.
It is Grade II Listed building.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Here is a recent exterior photograph of the former ABC Forum, Liverpool, in its current closed status:
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My father, Thomas Boyle was the artist who painted the advertising posters for the Forum Lime Street in the 1960s. I would love to know if any photographs of these posters have survived. Thanks.
2 of the interior here:
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Liverpool desperately needs a Beatles theatre for putting on shows,talks and films for the 1000’s of tourists who visit each year. Either the Forum or the Futurist seem like a no brainer to fulfill such a role. Why then are they in this state?!?
Scaffolding being removed:
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Projectors were Ross with RCA sound. Light was provided by Peerless Magnarc. Later Philips FP20s were used.
Is this the big cinema behind The Empire Theatre. If not what is the huge place i see on Google maps?
Ian,
The place directly behind the Empire Theatre is the former Odeon – it was closed in 2008. The Forum is at the other end of Lime Street – as you move down it you can see the railway station roof on the right. Immediately after the station is a single square tower block, and opposite this diagonally is a large building with a curved front (in the image I can see on Google Maps there is a red bus and a green/white bus turning right in front of the building). This is the old Forum cinema.
This map shows a few of the Cinemas on/around Lime Street (best seen in Satellite View).http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=103713836400452876723.000460ac1b59b591b9891
Second attempt at posting map link:
http://tinyurl.com/77fzh8
Great Lime Steet photo smoothie.