ABC Stourbridge
158 Lower High Street,
Stourbridge,
DY8 1TS
158 Lower High Street,
Stourbridge,
DY8 1TS
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd.
Architects: Joseph Lawden
Functions: Gymnasium, Live Performances
Styles: Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Scala Picture Theatre, Scala Theatre, New Scala Cinema, Savoy Cinema
Nearby Theaters
The 1,100-seat Scala Picture Theatre opened on 11th October 1920 with Isobel Elsom in "The Edge of Beyond", with Miss Elsom appearing in person. Designed by Birmingham architect Joseph Lawden in a Classical style, the narrow façade was framed by two columns that had terra cotta Hathernware tiling on its surround. Seating was provided in the auditorium on stalls and circle levels. On 12th May 1930 a Western Electric(WE) sound system was installed and the first ‘talkie’ screened was “The Sky Hawk” starring Helen Chandler. By 1931 it was operating as the Scala Theatre and by 1936 it had been taken over by the B.T. Davis chain and re-named New Scala Cinema.
It was taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) in September 1942, and was re-named Savoy Cinema on 20th September 1943. It was re-named ABC in 1968, and refurbished in 1978, with seating reduced to 780.
The ABC was closed on 6th November 1982 with “Pink Floyd-The Wall”. It was gutted internally and converted into a supermarket. Later used for storage, in early-1999, it was converted into a gymnasium, known as the Academy Health Club. On 8th April 2006, part of the building was opened as Heaven, a lap-dancing club. Since then the auditorium has been gutted. The façade remains basically unaltered.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The ABC photographed playing the ABC release in April 1968:
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This cinema was tatty and rather sad in its last years. However, for a local lad of 14, it had the major advantage of very lax standards and it was very easy to therefore waltz into X certificates. Strangely, it generally always seemed rather busy (at least in the evenings) therefore it’s closure seemed odd at the time.
Joseph Lawden was my grandfather, though I never met him as he died suddenly of pneumonia in 1933 aged 45. He was apparently a kind father and a talented architect. In the depression he suffered financially when houses that he had built became unsaleable and he sadly took to drink. As a Methodist he would not have approved of his cinema becoming a lap dancing club.
In the early days The Theatre did Cine-Variety, When I did reliefs (Management) there I did a lot of exploring of the building. Behind the Pros that was built for Cinemascope. There was the original Theatre one intact complete with dressing rooms… Full of Junk… The Manager at the time had been told for years and years that it would be given a refurbishment. When it finally came.. He had a heart attack and died… Hmmm.. We always thought it was shock…
The above photo of the old time commissionaire reminds me of the classic British picture “The Smallest Show On Earth” with the remarkable Bernard Miles standing outside the Bijou… a film I shall never tire of watching, especially as Peter Sellers is the drunk projectionist and Margaret Rutherford as the dotty old cashier.
Have Loaded a picture of the Sales Kiosk.. The Scala before ABC. was part of the B.T. Davis Group of Birmingham…
Does anyone have any pictures of the ABC/Scala/Savoy cinema auditorium on here? This was my first cinema encounter & i would love to see inside the auditorium again.
Prior to The ABC take over it was run as part of the BT Davis Circuit of Birmingham…
The frontage and foyer now remain but the auditorium and the rest of the building are now gutted.Another great loss after the demolition of the Odeon to the fine cinemas Stourbridge once had.The original stage lay lost and forgotten behind the new widened cinemascope proscenium along with the dressing rooms. It was used in the 1920s and 30s for Variety and repertory.I remember it in the 60s as the ABC, being very smart and well run with its traditional long ornate auditorium, barrel-vaulted ceiling and ABC house style chandeliers and a steep balcony. The high new wide proscenium ,screen and curtains blended in well.