ABC Southport

Philip Picturedrome on July 29, 2010 at 6:10 pm

1986 photo:
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pressedtrousers on June 20, 2006 at 6:39 am

I was, and remain, very fond of this cinema. It was a once-grand building, with Art Deco touches, though by the time I started going there [1979] it was a little shabby and worn, though sound and picture quality remained very good – 70mm showings were a selling point, when the only competition in town was the smaller Classic [aka Cannon, aka ABC in later years] Cinema [considered a fleapit right up until its demise; a third cinema, the larger Odeon, was demolished in 1979 and the spot is now occupied by a Sainsburys].

Entrance was into the large, tall symmetrical open-plan foyer. On the far left by the doors was the merchandise stall, and to the far right was the ticket office. The interior decor seemed unchanged since it was built.

Ahead, again to left and right, were stairs up to a balcony level overlooking the foyer, where forthcoming attractions posters were displayed, and entry to the cinema was through the left-hand doors, up the darkened stairs and into the upper circle auditorium. When you exited, you came out on the right-hand doors.

Reduced audience numbers meant that the lower stalls were seldom opened to the public, and seating was restricted to the upper circle; the only time I remember them being open was for the bigger audiences that ET drew in 1982.

Indeed, the cinema seemed to show a great many mainstream films, and often had them booked in for long periods over summer holidays [i remember seeing Superman II, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Blade Runner, Time Bandits, Footloose, Flash Gordon, Star Trek I & II, and Star Trek III: The Search For Spock, which was the last film they ever showed, in 1984].

When the cinema closed, it was demolished to make way for flats. To this day, I will bore anyone who asks with memories of childhood visits to this cinema. It’s a cherished memory.