Doubled as the Magic Club in Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985
The club entrance was created using the back entrance which had similar pillars to the front but this was the part of the building that got knocked down
The photo is how I remember it, the demolition took place in 1986, I used to go past each day on my way to college, during demolition the side walls were visible, with a long sloping floor and panelling similar to many cinemas of this era like the Electric Portobello Rd, the auditorium was set back from Wilmslow Rd and ran parallel to it
In 1915 the Palace was only demolished to ground level, the basement floor and walls remain, and are currently used as Sc2 of the Rio making it one of London’s oldest and newest cinema screens
The ABC was destroyed by fire last night along with the School of Art next door according to press, images show the roof has collapsed
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/glasgow-school-art-fire-o2-12719173
the building still stands as a small shop unit, it is now numbered No46, and stands on the north side of Stanborough Passage (which still comes up on google maps)
a rough drawing of what it may have looked like attached
doing a bit of detective work, it seems that the buildings were renumbered in the 60’s and that the building that housed Fairyland is still standing, and the space behind it that housed the Amhurst Hall is part of the Kingsland shopping centre, and the cinema actually joined onto the Woolworths building sharing a odd shaped wall, and so may have survived longer – possibly into the 80’s or 90’s ??
map attached showing this and a page from the Dalston Guide from 1910 listing the businesses
Sadly the building is currently being demolished, I hope the signage was saved, but it looks like the beautiful marble lobby has been smashed to pieces.
The owner wanted to redevelop and somehow in spite of being listed the consent to demolish was given. Another piece of Berlin history gone, in a rapidly changing city.
The frontage of the building dates from the 50’s and was possibly the result of wartime bomb damage due to this high explosive device in late 1940/early 1941
http://www.bombsight.org/bombs/27517/
new photos added of the 1910 planning application, the address though is 17/19 Dalston Lane.
The plan shows the building pretty much as it is today internally.
The projection room is listed as the Biograph Chamber and was at 1st floor level so the auditorium was very tall and very square.
I have also added plans for an upgrade of the cinema and the addition of new toilets in 1916, so it must have been in operation until a later date than suggested.
Update – The cinema opened in December 1910 – i have added a press ad from the Hackney Spectator from that date.
The cinema opened as the Electric Palace and was designed by Gilbert Booth, it became the Majestic in 1915 and after passing through several companies it was Capital & Provincial News Theatres who renamed it the Vogue in 1938, it was run as a sister cinema to the Classic in Dalston which shared a similar continental film programme.
Doubled as the Magic Club in Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985 The club entrance was created using the back entrance which had similar pillars to the front but this was the part of the building that got knocked down
Planned reopening as 144 seat cinema in the circle/nightclub space In 2021
The photo is how I remember it, the demolition took place in 1986, I used to go past each day on my way to college, during demolition the side walls were visible, with a long sloping floor and panelling similar to many cinemas of this era like the Electric Portobello Rd, the auditorium was set back from Wilmslow Rd and ran parallel to it
Now closed to the public, in future it will just be for Soho House members
Now closed for redevelopment, which appears that the new entrance will be at the back of the building and the street front will be shops.
In 1915 the Palace was only demolished to ground level, the basement floor and walls remain, and are currently used as Sc2 of the Rio making it one of London’s oldest and newest cinema screens
Looking good post restoration Oct 2018
The ABC was destroyed by fire last night along with the School of Art next door according to press, images show the roof has collapsed https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/glasgow-school-art-fire-o2-12719173
the building was demolished in the early 90’s for housing
It was still operating as a bingo club in 1985/86 when i lived nearby
Site sadly virtually cleared, pictures added
Now the Retro Suite event space
Good article with some great interior shots before it was stripped out
http://www.demagazine.co.uk/architecture/so-long-hackney-rd-bingo-hall
Demolition has begun although the cinema has been totally stripped internally, a very sad sight
the building still stands as a small shop unit, it is now numbered No46, and stands on the north side of Stanborough Passage (which still comes up on google maps) a rough drawing of what it may have looked like attached
doing a bit of detective work, it seems that the buildings were renumbered in the 60’s and that the building that housed Fairyland is still standing, and the space behind it that housed the Amhurst Hall is part of the Kingsland shopping centre, and the cinema actually joined onto the Woolworths building sharing a odd shaped wall, and so may have survived longer – possibly into the 80’s or 90’s ?? map attached showing this and a page from the Dalston Guide from 1910 listing the businesses
Sadly the building is currently being demolished, I hope the signage was saved, but it looks like the beautiful marble lobby has been smashed to pieces. The owner wanted to redevelop and somehow in spite of being listed the consent to demolish was given. Another piece of Berlin history gone, in a rapidly changing city.
The frontage of the building dates from the 50’s and was possibly the result of wartime bomb damage due to this high explosive device in late 1940/early 1941 http://www.bombsight.org/bombs/27517/
new photos added of the 1910 planning application, the address though is 17/19 Dalston Lane. The plan shows the building pretty much as it is today internally. The projection room is listed as the Biograph Chamber and was at 1st floor level so the auditorium was very tall and very square. I have also added plans for an upgrade of the cinema and the addition of new toilets in 1916, so it must have been in operation until a later date than suggested.
Photos added to show that sadly the auditorium block of the Vogue was demolished for three new houses to be built in 2000
News reel footage of Gracie Fields opening the Dominion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTMVotAYeGw
Update – The cinema opened in December 1910 – i have added a press ad from the Hackney Spectator from that date. The cinema opened as the Electric Palace and was designed by Gilbert Booth, it became the Majestic in 1915 and after passing through several companies it was Capital & Provincial News Theatres who renamed it the Vogue in 1938, it was run as a sister cinema to the Classic in Dalston which shared a similar continental film programme.
This photo was taken from the balcony of the Kingsland Empire cinema
http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/heritage/return_of_the_abc_art_deco_cinema_could_be_back_after_33_years_1_4964158
Trade article on the reopening of the Kingsland Empire as the new Classic Cinema Dalston