History from Wikipedia
The ABC Cinema in Wakefield is an Art Deco building that was designed for Associated British Cinemas by in-house architect William R. Glen and opened as the Regal Cinema on 9 December 1935.
Not as large as some later ABC houses the Regal accommodated 1,594 but had a full stage 26 feet (7.9 m) deep behind the 43 feet (13 m) wide proscenium. The interior was rather plainer than many of Glen's cinemas with concealed lighting under the balcony and at the rear of the ceiling and pendant fittings casting light upwards towards the front of the cinema.
It was renamed ABC in 1962. In 1976 it was divided into three screens with Screen 1 seating 532 in the balcony using the original screen and projection suite and Screen 2 (236 seats) and Screen 3 (170 seats) in the rear stalls area. In this form it reopened on 11 November 1976. In 1986 ABC's cinemas were sold to The Cannon Group. In December 1996 Cineworld opened a multiplex in Wakefield and in 1997 the ABC closed.
Explored with forum members JaneEyre and ACID- REFLUX.
A bunch of teenagers entered the building very loudly prior to us making our way in, no idea where they vanished to, we didn't see or hear them again the entire time we were there was however a definite smell of our friend Mary Jane when we walked in.
One of the Foyer areas
Remains of the air-handling unit
What is left of the stalls including piles of carpet and seat mechanisms. This area is covered with water, basement level must be underwater.
Stairs up to the balcony seating area, surprised that the handrail is still there.
As seen from the front of the balcony, the screen has seen better days
Looking up the balcony area, sadly the seating has been ripped out
Full view of the cinema from the rear of the balcony section
Some kind of heating element?
We went in the projector room but it is now full of pigeons and not much else to see but lots to smell (JaneEyre ran off gagging)
JaneEyre taking a picture of a rat that was posing, she named it Arthur after a patron in our local who always hits on her
Corridor and stairs on our way back out
Thanks for looking
The ABC Cinema in Wakefield is an Art Deco building that was designed for Associated British Cinemas by in-house architect William R. Glen and opened as the Regal Cinema on 9 December 1935.
Not as large as some later ABC houses the Regal accommodated 1,594 but had a full stage 26 feet (7.9 m) deep behind the 43 feet (13 m) wide proscenium. The interior was rather plainer than many of Glen's cinemas with concealed lighting under the balcony and at the rear of the ceiling and pendant fittings casting light upwards towards the front of the cinema.
It was renamed ABC in 1962. In 1976 it was divided into three screens with Screen 1 seating 532 in the balcony using the original screen and projection suite and Screen 2 (236 seats) and Screen 3 (170 seats) in the rear stalls area. In this form it reopened on 11 November 1976. In 1986 ABC's cinemas were sold to The Cannon Group. In December 1996 Cineworld opened a multiplex in Wakefield and in 1997 the ABC closed.
Explored with forum members JaneEyre and ACID- REFLUX.
A bunch of teenagers entered the building very loudly prior to us making our way in, no idea where they vanished to, we didn't see or hear them again the entire time we were there was however a definite smell of our friend Mary Jane when we walked in.
One of the Foyer areas
Remains of the air-handling unit
What is left of the stalls including piles of carpet and seat mechanisms. This area is covered with water, basement level must be underwater.
Stairs up to the balcony seating area, surprised that the handrail is still there.
As seen from the front of the balcony, the screen has seen better days
Looking up the balcony area, sadly the seating has been ripped out
Full view of the cinema from the rear of the balcony section
Some kind of heating element?
We went in the projector room but it is now full of pigeons and not much else to see but lots to smell (JaneEyre ran off gagging)
JaneEyre taking a picture of a rat that was posing, she named it Arthur after a patron in our local who always hits on her
Corridor and stairs on our way back out
Thanks for looking
gonna have to charge in future mate lol
