ABC Harrogate

To my mind, one of Glen’s best interiors. The wide proscenium arch and restrained splay wall treatment with its concealed lighting and slender statuettes made for a handsome auditorium. The largely coffered ceiling had three large roses above the front stalls from which were suspended “ABC” spray chandeliers. A gold, satin festoon curtain was lit in the primary colours and secondary blending by footlights and, behind it, a festooned border was lit either red or green by a batten which was typically operated when trailer leads or theatre sales adverts were being screened. CinemaScope was particularly effective within such a relatively wide opening (compared with York ABC’s more restricted arch). I was in a capacity audience at the opening performance of a pre-release run of “Doctor Zhivago” at Harrogate ABC in 1967 and the presentation was “top notch” throughout. I believe that, when the cinema was demolished, the “Oscar” style statuettes were rescued and installed at the Halifax ABC where that cinema’s own, similar figures had been lost.