Remembering Liverpool Structures - The ABC Cinema

In the 1930s Associated British Cinemas were given the green light to build a super cinema on a  prominent Lime Street site which extended into Elliott Street. The plans were drawn up by William R Glen, FRIAS, together with the resident architect, Ernest A Shennon, FRIBA.  With only 150′ x 74′ the planners had their work cut out in providing a cinema that could seat a large audience. The six story Grade 11 listed building was built for £200,000 with a maximum capacity of 1,835 people; 750 Balcony seats and 1085 in the Stalls. The balcony extended well over the stalls area towards the stage which helped to increase the capacity on this very slender site. The disappointing shallow stage was only 37′ in width which seemed out of proportion for such a large auditorium. On Saturday the 16th of May 1931, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Alderman Edwin Thompson, attended the Grand Gala opening.  A Compton 3Manual/12Ranks organ on a lift central of the stage was opened by organist Reginald Foort. It was originally named 'The Forum', and opened with the film, 'Almost A Honeymoon' starring Clifford Mollison and Dodo Watts, but was subsequently renamed by ABC Cinemas in 1971 to the 'ABC Cinema'. At the time it was considered to be the city's finest super-cinema.

A huge, towering curved Portland stone faced frontage had a wide entrance topped with a 100′ long bronze canopy, with vertical metal windows set in panels and arranged in twos and threes both horizontally and vertically, that provided shelter for customers waiting to gain access. The centrally placed windows over the entrance on the corner have pilaster motifs, above which is a raised plinth intended for a flagstaff. There were four sets of double doors leading into the main entrance hall which was lined with Italian marble with a floor of Tinos and white marble. Two large waiting foyers enabled its many customers to be accommodated inside rather than queue outside.  On the second floor was the 40 table cafe. The auditorium design, depicting Venetian scenes, attempted a Continental atmospheric style that featured a stage end  treatment consisting of a vast curved canopy over the splayed side walls which featured tall ornamental balconettes or alcoves containing elaborate mirror and plaster designs lit by concealed lighting . The proscenium was square, with a larger ante-proscenium of large vertical flutes within a square decorative border giving a cluttered appearance. The auditorium main span of ceiling was flat curving towards the sides, with a central sunburst rosette feature with a light fitting in the middle, the design of which was incorporated in other parts of the cinema.

In 1953 3D projectors were installed, with the first performance on the 18th of October, 'House of Wax', starring Vincent Price, and special 3D glasses were handed out to the patrons on admission.However 3D films were a short lived novelty and CinemaScope was just around the corner as the next new attraction. In 1958 and 1960 new equipment was installed for the Todd AO ready for the opening of 'South Pacific' and 'Oklahoma'. The building was Grade II Listed in 1981 and continued as a single screen cinema  With a budget set at £350,000 contractors moved in to turn the building into a three screen venue. Stipulations were put in place because of the Grade II Listing that no damage was to be done to the original fabric of the building during the alterations. ABC 1 seated 683 customers, the two mini-screens were formed under the balcony, ABC 2 seated 272 and ABC 3 seated 217 seats. A new projection room was built into the rear of screen one, with the downstairs screens in the old stalls area served by a combined projection room. The restriction of the small proscenium was overcome by the installation of a new wide screen frame brought forward of the original stage and splay walls, thus forming a new curtained proscenium. Before being split into three individual screens in 1982, the final films that were shown were, 'Kentucky Fried Movie' and 'The Other Cinderella' on the 15th of May 1982.

The cinema finally closed on the 29th of January 1998 with a farewell film performance of the original movie, 'Casablanca', starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, and with a special ticket price of only £1 guaranteed the final performance was well supported. It has since been lying derelict but hopefully the planned project to develop Lime Street will see the cinema auditorium converted into a new performance venue and sound stage with associated bars and restaurant and incorporate facilities for Digital Media Content production.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2022/01/remembering-liverpool-structures_17.html