Comments about ABC New Street in Birmingham, GB

Robbie25646 on September 7, 2012 at 1:48 pm

I can remember going to see Herman’s Hermits in a film here sitting in the per circle, I was scared to death! wit afeaofgover thero

Dennis Thomas on June 12, 2012 at 10:41 pm

Hi Mike, Yes indeed I did have a little beard :) so that was almost certainly me.

I remember Jock,also of course, John Brockington,and Larry French, John Constable, James Dunscombe, and after James left,a guy younger than me Peter Hall.

My future wife was very young then,long black hair,you maybe remember her.

In recent years I have regained some limited contact with John Brockington and James Dunscombe,via Facebook.

With ref to Peter Hall,we talk via Skype once or twice a week,so it’s great to know that some of us are still around,kind of reassuring as we get older.

If you ever track down that picture with me? in it,along with John and Larry,please mail me a copy,that would be great.

          Dennis

Mike_Blakemore on June 12, 2012 at 9:02 pm

Hi Dennis I was there July 1968 till May 1969 The Manager was Johnny Simmons. Housemanageress Joan Cooks Ne Assistant Manager. Peter Mathews was before me he went to Televison. Jock was Head doorman. Frances was head cashier and I think Your wife was young Did you have a little beard. I have a picture somewhere of You John and Larry French. I went Back to Walsall. Perce the Course was still at Colehill Street. I later became General Manager of The Capitol Ward End and associated Cinemas :o)

Dennis Thomas on June 12, 2012 at 5:54 pm

Hello Mike,as a young projectionist at the ABC New Street end of 1964/to late 1969,I have no memory at all of Joan Cooks?.

I remember a rather attractive,‘I thought’ woman called Francis/Frances? who was a cashier.

I remember Mr Simmons the manager,and a young manager, Peter Matthews who went on to work in TV/radio? forget now.
I met my ‘wife to be'there,Christine,she was a cashier.

I left after a clash with a new manager that had started, called Percy Freeman ?? or whatever his name was,I know what I called him,but would not print it here :)

Thanks for the pictures,

                      Dennis Thomas....

Mike_Blakemore on June 11, 2012 at 11:19 am

I have at last found them. So I have loaded more pictures of the Cinema..

Mike_Blakemore on May 31, 2012 at 4:49 pm

Have loaded a picture of the Pay Box and Kiosk

Mike_Blakemore on January 10, 2012 at 12:31 pm

To Johncine. It was very common for cinemas to do this. Odeon new street opened side masking and dropped top masking. as did the Gaumont. Odeon Queensway. Our cinemas The Capitol. Stockland Green.. A Number only moved the top masking. Dependant on the Pross opening and achieving the biggest picture at a true ratio was the main thing and not ending up with a very small screen..

Johncine on January 10, 2012 at 11:46 am

The Odeon was bizarre, because it played 1:85 films on a bigger screen than the 2.35, bringing the masking down the screen.

Mike_Blakemore on November 9, 2011 at 12:38 pm

To Johncine. Yes the films are right for the Cinema. Yje screen was only 28ft scope… at the time Odeon New Street was the next largest in the City The Capitol Ward End was 48ft scope slightly bigger then New street

Johncine on November 9, 2011 at 12:29 pm

Some memorable evenings here. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA in SENSURROUND, SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN II, FLASH GORDON, HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1 / BLAZING SADDLES. Possibly suffered a bit in light of the fact that it never had children’s prices. Other films notable to play here were the likes of OUTLAND, SHARKY’S MACHINE, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE TOWERING INFERNO,DRACULA(1979), BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRAVIXENS, QUADROPHENIA,MAD MAX and PHANTASM. Still memorable as one of the biggest screens at the time alongside the Gaumont.

Mike_Blakemore on August 30, 2011 at 5:10 pm

I did a Spell at The ABC New Street as an Assistant Manager 1968 – 1969 moving back to the ABC Walsall. I worked with Johnny Simmons. and Joan Cooks. The Organ was infront of the screen dead centre on a lift. This was removed and a platform placed infront of the screen.. The Cinema was orginally owned by Cinema Properties Ltd., Leon Salberg (Alex Theatre) Sidney Clifft, and J Cohen.. ABC bought the Theatre and William Glenn re styled the building

Ian on October 21, 2009 at 9:17 am

A photo taken in October 2009 here:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4031614438/

Dennis Thomas on October 13, 2007 at 4:46 pm

I started work at the ABC New Street in 1964, as a projectionist, i was just 15 years old at the time.
I worked there for about five years, and met my wife to be there, as well, she was a cashier.
Happy memories.
Dennis Thomas…..

Lioness on July 17, 2007 at 11:25 pm

I remember going to the Forum (ABC) as we still called it as a child with my mom. I used to love to sit right up high in what was locally called the ‘gods’. It used to make my mom feel a bit sick :). I remember the seats being quite upright and hard compared to other cinemas and there were what we called opera glasses on the backs of the seats in front so you could see better. After the Odeon, New street this was my favourite cinema.

demaine on November 21, 2004 at 6:30 pm

once again KenRoe you have come up trumps with this cinema.Where do you get your information from.Please E-Mail and let me Know.
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ABC New Street

88 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4HS

88 New Street,
Birmingham, B2 4HS