ABC CINEMA

ABC CINEMA, STREATHAM HIGH ROAD SW16

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1385902
Date first listed:: 22-Oct-1998
List Entry Name:: ABC CINEMA
Statutory Address:: ABC CINEMA, STREATHAM HIGH ROAD SW16

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Date:: 1999-08-19
Reference:: IOE01/00999/34
Rights:: © Mr David March. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1385902
Date first listed:: 22-Oct-1998
List Entry Name:: ABC CINEMA
Statutory Address 1:: ABC CINEMA, STREATHAM HIGH ROAD SW16

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: ABC CINEMA, STREATHAM HIGH ROAD SW16

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Lambeth (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ 30280 72536

Details

TQ 3072 963/30/10076

LAMBETH STREATHAM HIGH ROAD, SW16 (East side), ABC Cinema

II Cinema. 1938; some internal remodelling 1977. The architect was W R Glen, for ABC Cinemas, as the Regal Cinema, renamed ABC in 1960 and briefly known as Cannon cinema in the 1990s.

Steel frame clad in brick with some decorative faience tiling to front. Auditorium with small stage behind proscenium arch, and single balcony reached from large foyer to front; the auditorium sub-divided into three in 1977. Curved brick facade with projecting curved faience centrepiece, a rare instance of the display board for the films being incorporated within the design and originally with name 'REGAL' over, set within a fine surviving frieze of square motifs. Brick banded cornice to high parapet above. To right a short staircase tower forms a careful counterpoise to this double-curved composition. In brickwork, staircase windows set on curve, with horizontal metal panes and faience motif at top. The outer doors have been renewed, and the canopy raised, in keeping with the overall design. Modern signage in 1950s spirit. The other elevations of unadorned but well-made brown brick, with windows to rear offices and dressing rooms with rectangular-paned metal windows. Rear has boiler chimney but no fly tower.

INTERIOR. The foyer is a particularly handsome design, unrivalled in ABC cinemas and rare in the work of all cinema architects by this date. Double-height, with dog-leg stairs to either side leading through arch of eliptical columns to landing and upper foyer, the balustrade with art deco metalwork, as have the radiator guards. Stepped ceiling with cornice and frieze. Coving in ceiling and over original inner doors on landing, that underneath balcony of similar pattern but incorporating planters. Original inner doors at ground-floor level also. On landing two classically-inspired roundels, and an original bevelled mirror. Inner vestibules with decorated ceilings. The former balcony is now the principal screen, with a modern inserted proscenium arch; it retains decorative ironwork balustrading at entrance, fluted pilasters with niches in side walls, a fluted cornice, and grillework and coved insets to the ceiling. Similar details to the ceilings of Screens 2 and 3. However, the original proscenium survives in a dark void behind these screens, with stencil decoration over, and plaster grilles to either side, now blocked. The fluted proscenium surrounds and cornicing make a convincing composition.

The ABC circuit was the most extensive in Britain in the 1930s, but few examples survive in anything approaching listable condition. This is a particularly striking survival for the quality of its facade, and especially of its double-height foyer which survives almost unaltered.

Source Allen Eyles, ABC: the First Name in Entertainment, Cinema Theatre Association, 1993.

Listing NGR: TQ3028072536

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 471321
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Eyles, A, ABC. The First Name in Entertainment, (1993)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.