O2 Apollo Manchester

Stockport Road and Hyde Road,
Manchester, M12 6AP

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Derick Moss
Derick Moss on January 4, 2024 at 8:40 am

We had the press screening for ‘On The Buses’ at the Apollo. I was the assistant manager at the time and spent that afternoon chauffeuring Reg Varney around Manchester City centre.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on January 4, 2024 at 7:13 am

Screened the World premiere (as ABC Ardwick) of the movie “On the buses”.

UKmender
UKmender on December 17, 2020 at 5:19 am

In answer to joncas, above, the entrance on Hyde Road was a common ploy used where many cinemas were located at busy corners. Though the main frontage is on Stockport Road, it was originally thought advantageous for the building to also have a presence on Hyde Road, directly opposite the popular Manchester Hippodrome theatre. As Ken’s photos show, with the removal of all the surrounding shops and cafes, this now looks very odd. In the original context it looked rather splendid. Both entrances were, originally, similarly decorated and both contained box-offices. The Hyde Road entrance also gave access to the integral cafe and ballroom. Some attempts were made to run it as a separate venue but it is currently abandoned.

terry
terry on January 7, 2019 at 10:11 am

I carried out Managerial relief duties there on a number of occasions whilst it was an ABC. At the time I was based at the almost as large ABC Wigan which still seated 2,280 (original capacity 2,560).

Wigan Ritz is just a distant memory now but I am delighted that the Apollo continues to thrive as a live venue.

davidstirzaker
davidstirzaker on January 7, 2019 at 8:54 am

Last August we celebrated 80 years of the Apollo

JenWarner
JenWarner on October 14, 2017 at 12:25 pm

Can anyone help me please? I am looking to find the name of the cook in the Cafe around 1962 or 63. I believe her surname was Sherratt but need a first name. She worked with my mum Anne Smalley who was her kitchen assistant. She was small and blonde if that helps jog anyone’s memory. Any info however small will help. Fingers crossed. Thank you.

terry
terry on September 2, 2014 at 5:32 am

From The British Pathe Library: The Beatles Live 1963:–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_GRLfW9PI4

From The British Pathe Library: Premiere of ‘Hell Is A City’ 1960:–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWwqR4UOonM

Derick Moss
Derick Moss on July 23, 2014 at 4:08 pm

I remember that Wimpy Bar, food was awful, and it was run by some female dragon whose name escapes me.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore on July 23, 2014 at 2:11 pm

Apollo Did put screen in the cafe. My associate supplied the Projection Equipment

davidstirzaker
davidstirzaker on July 23, 2014 at 12:31 pm

It was a Wimpey Bar in my time during the late 60’s

johncas
johncas on July 23, 2014 at 12:23 pm

What was the building round the corner on Hyde road another entrance or another cinema

Derick Moss
Derick Moss on April 23, 2013 at 2:56 pm

I worked at the Apollo as Assistant Manager under Ken Cooper, someone I will always consider my mentor, in the 70’s. It was by far my favourite cinema and I loved the proscenium arch with it’s changing colours. Those changing rooms below stage could tell a few stories!

DelBoy
DelBoy on June 19, 2012 at 2:09 pm

The ABC Ardwick doubled as a cinema and as a district office for the ABC Cinemas group. Dougie Revis was the charming, sensitive, avuncular District Manager until 1969 when he was replaced by Jimmy Gold who was by comparison charmless, aggressive and (many people believed) altogether better suited to gangland thuggery than to cinema management.

One of the usherettes was Anna Ingham, an attractive and very presentable teenager who had clearly blossomed since junior school, where she had been well-known for having an almost-permanently runny nose.

eurotrampbaz
eurotrampbaz on March 28, 2012 at 6:35 am

left here in 1982,also showed The song remains the same.

projectionman
projectionman on October 23, 2011 at 2:43 am

i have worked at the apollo as a projectionist to show some of the pop concert films like pink floyd the wall and the song remains the same the projectors are ross gc3s on carbon arc and westrex valve sound i worked there in 1983

davidstirzaker
davidstirzaker on July 21, 2011 at 8:06 am

and the district number was J14.

The Beatles did indeed play there and Pathe News either did their first colour newsreel or cinemascope ratio for that concert

davidstirzaker
davidstirzaker on July 21, 2011 at 8:04 am

ABC Ardwick used to be the District Office for the Manchester area

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 25, 2010 at 11:12 am

Nice theatre and THE BEATLES played there.

laurajade18
laurajade18 on February 11, 2010 at 4:40 pm

I have been to the Apollo many times as a concert-goer, it was the first building to start my interest in old cinema buildings, it is absolutely stunning inside, fantastic surroundings to see a band in! So glad that it has been kept!

terry
terry on July 27, 2009 at 3:36 pm

Here is the link to The Beatles live at the ABC Theatre (as it was then) in 1963:–

View link

……..and here is a clip of the British première of ‘Hell is a City’ at the ABC Apollo (as it still was) in 1960:–

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 22, 2009 at 6:55 pm

There is a newspaper ad for “Hell is a City” at the Apollo about halfway down this site. I couldn’t figure out where most of the theaters were that they were discussing here.
http://www.levyboy.com/cinema.htm

woody
woody on March 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm

a photo of the side entry and ballroom building from 1989 when it was the Inn on the Green pub
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3390633122/

and of the front of the building
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/3390634358/

Ian
Ian on February 11, 2007 at 6:36 am

More photos here.
Exterior:-
View link

Interior:-
View link
View link
View link