ABC Sidcup
77a Sidcup High Street,
Sidcup,
DA14 6DW
77a Sidcup High Street,
Sidcup,
DA14 6DW
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., Cannon Cinemas, Odeon Theatres Ltd., Union Cinema Co. Ltd.
Architects: Robert Cromie, F.T.W. Goldsmith
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: King's Hall, King's Hall Picture Playhouse, Regal Cinema, Cannon
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Located in Sidcup, today a south-eastern district of Greater London. The King’s Hall was originally built prior to 1909 as a concert hall. It was converted into a cinema in 1914 named King’s Hall Picture Playhouse. It was enlarged and given an Art Deco style design in 1932 by noted architect Robert Cromie. It re-opened as the Regal Cinema on 31st October 1932.
Taken over by the Union Cinemas chain in 1935, they were taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) in October 1937.
It was re-named ABC in August 1963. Closed at the end of October 1965 for modernisation, it re-opened on 18th December 1965 with a Gala Civic Re-opening with “Sands of the Kalahari”. The ABC was closed in 1977 for twinning and reopened on 1st December 1977 with 516 seats in the former stalls and 303 seats in the former circle.
It was re-named Cannon in the mid-1980’s when the Cannon Group took over ABC. In the late-1990’s a management buy-out took over and it was re-named ABC again. In 2000 it was taken over by Odeon Theatres Ltd., and they closed the ABC on 16th August 2000. The final films were Nicolas Cage in "Gone in 60 Seconds" in the downstairs screen and George Clooney in "The Perfect Storm" in the upstairs screen.
In 2001, the building was sold, and there were proposals to convert to a nightclub. These never materialised, and by the end of 2001, there had been two fires in the building, numerous break-ins and an illegal ‘rave’ party had taken place. By the summer of 2002, there were plans proposed to retain the façade, and build flats on the site of the auditorium. The building was demolished in February 2003, and in 2009, an Independent Mortgage Broker operates from the ground floor of the foyer, with the upper floor converted into flats.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Thanks KenRoe.
Correction. Odeon Theatres Did not take over ABC… ABC took over Odeon… ABC renamed the theatres Odeon as it was the brand leader name..
Have loaded Stage view..
Nice pics Ken, what became of the organ, any idea?
The original architect was FTW Goldsmith. I have a laminated ticket giving a discount in the nearby McDonalds
Ken sorry to disagree with your comments, but the cinema didn’t close on September 17th 1977 for refurbishment as I went to see The Spy Who Loved Me on that date. I’m only correcting you as your facts are always correct. Keep up the good work
Was the facade retained?
davidcoppock: The main façade was not retained. Ground floor is now retail with 2 floors of apartments above that have windows facing onto the High Street.
To be fair, particularly upon closure, the main façade wasn’t much to look at. However, its replacement is remarkable for its complete absence of elegance.
Having a quick look at the rest, it seems the auditorium block was demolished, but the building that was between the vestibule and the auditorium seems to have been repurposed, albeit with extensive alterations.
Parts of its original frontage can be seen from the High Street, behind the single storey building that is to the left of where the cinema’s main entrance was.
to Odeon Esque The organ was a temporary one ABC had for such openings
I have a soft spot for this cinema as it was my first managerial post in 1985. The building had tremendous character with parts of its long architectural past still intact, from the 1900s, 30s and recent 70s conversion to a twin. The old stage, fly tower and dressing rooms lay unused behind the huge curved tabs which hid the old house tabs and hand winch, which no one took the risk to turn!