ABC Nottingham
9-11 Chapel Bar,
Nottingham,
NG1 6HJ
9-11 Chapel Bar,
Nottingham,
NG1 6HJ
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd., Cannon Cinemas, MGM Theatres, Virgin Cinemas
Architects: William Riddell Glen
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Carlton Cinema, Cannon, Virgin
Nearby Theaters
The Carlton Cinema was built by Associated British Cinemas Ltd.(ABC), designed by their ‘in-house’ architect W.R. Glen. It had an imposing position on the corner of Chapel Bar and Mount Street, just 50 yards away from the Ritz Cinema/Odeon, and was the third largest cinema to operate in the city.
The Carlton Cinema was opened on 16th October 1939 with Charles Laughton in “Jamaica Inn”. Seating was provided for 1,294 in the stalls and 783 in the circle.
Re-named ABC from 14th December 1959. On 13th November, 1960, it hosted the UK Provincial Premiere of “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning”, starring Albert Finney & Shirley Anne Field which was filmed on location in Nottingham.
Closed on 24th August 1974, for conversion into a triple-screen cinema. ABC 1 with 797 seats located in the former circle opened on 4th November 1974, and ABC 2 & 3 with seating for 440 & 282 located in the former stalls opened on 2nd December 1974.
Taken over by the Cannon Group and re-named Cannon in 1986, it later briefly became the MGM, followed by Virgin. It was taken back by a management buy-out and re-named ABC.
The ABC closed on 22nd July 1999 with screenings of “The Mummy”, “Ten Things I Hate About You” and “Notting Hill”. There were plans to build a 14-screen multiplex on the site, but these were turned down. The cinema was demolished in early-2001 and a building housing a hotel, bars, restaurants offices and a gym was erected on the site.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Due to the road layout the only view is from this end of the road. The ABC was at the bottom on the left hand
corner.
By chance I visited the site on Sunday 25th July 1999, by which time the ABC had closed (see my photograph). So, rather than closing on the 29th, as stated above, perhaps it closed a week earlier, on the 22nd.
Grand opening ad posted.
The UK (and World) premiere of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was on October 26th 1960 at the Warner in London. The film opened in Nottingham on November 13th at what was advertised as the Provincial Premiere. There was a personal appearance by Shirley Anne Field at the ABC Nottingham on the opening Sunday evening, although the film had opened in the afternoon and was showing concurrently at the ABC Metropole Nottingham.