The ABC was destroyed by fire last night along with the School of Art next door according to press, images show the roof has collapsed
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/glasgow-school-art-fire-o2-12719173
the building still stands as a small shop unit, it is now numbered No46, and stands on the north side of Stanborough Passage (which still comes up on google maps)
a rough drawing of what it may have looked like attached
doing a bit of detective work, it seems that the buildings were renumbered in the 60’s and that the building that housed Fairyland is still standing, and the space behind it that housed the Amhurst Hall is part of the Kingsland shopping centre, and the cinema actually joined onto the Woolworths building sharing a odd shaped wall, and so may have survived longer – possibly into the 80’s or 90’s ??
map attached showing this and a page from the Dalston Guide from 1910 listing the businesses
Sadly the building is currently being demolished, I hope the signage was saved, but it looks like the beautiful marble lobby has been smashed to pieces.
The owner wanted to redevelop and somehow in spite of being listed the consent to demolish was given. Another piece of Berlin history gone, in a rapidly changing city.
The frontage of the building dates from the 50’s and was possibly the result of wartime bomb damage due to this high explosive device in late 1940/early 1941
http://www.bombsight.org/bombs/27517/
new photos added of the 1910 planning application, the address though is 17/19 Dalston Lane.
The plan shows the building pretty much as it is today internally.
The projection room is listed as the Biograph Chamber and was at 1st floor level so the auditorium was very tall and very square.
I have also added plans for an upgrade of the cinema and the addition of new toilets in 1916, so it must have been in operation until a later date than suggested.
Update – The cinema opened in December 1910 – i have added a press ad from the Hackney Spectator from that date.
The cinema opened as the Electric Palace and was designed by Gilbert Booth, it became the Majestic in 1915 and after passing through several companies it was Capital & Provincial News Theatres who renamed it the Vogue in 1938, it was run as a sister cinema to the Classic in Dalston which shared a similar continental film programme.
The Rio Cinema Dalston making global news with its spoof prank on the La La Land/Moonlight Oscar fiasco
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/03/01/oscars-mix-up-inspires-cinemas-genius-la-la-land-prank-audience/
The interior has been completely gutted right back to the bare brick, which means there is no reason not to demolish the whole building, it will be replaced with a hotel and a basement cinema opening in 2019, and a frontage based loosely on the current facade, a sad end for a great survivor
Photo added showing the building around 1960 when it was Lyons Clothing Shop, and the auditorium had been split horizontally and windows and doors added onto Ridley Rd, at the right of the photo is a glimpse of the tiled frontage
The Classic, Kingsland Road, London, which was opened recently to be run on a repertory policy by C. Seeman of the Classic Baker St, is a reconstruction of the old Kingsland Empire.
The whole interior was gutted leaving the walls and roof, a new circle installed, and new waiting spaces, foyer, operating box and plenum chamber constructed.
The front was remodelled and was designed to give full play to the elaborate neon scheme designed by the architect.
The neon scheme consists of the word “Classic” in in Kingsland High Road, the letters averaging 10 ft high, and on the corner a metal and glass sign projecting 6ft 6 inches from the wall and 33ft high illuminated by banks of neon tube. A new canopy with an illuminated facia completes the remodelling.
The interior is decorated in a modern style with sweeping lines, and the colouring is in a grey-blue and warm brown, and the seating in a dark red, which is set off by red festoon tabs.
Contracts
Main contractors, Parker and Addison, Streatham, fibrous plaster and decorations and front elevation treatment, Campbell Bros, 28 Albert Embankment SE11, exterior sign, canopy and ornamental metal work, Garton and Thorne, 44 St Pauls Crescent Camden Town, heating and ventilation, London Radiator Heating Co Ltd, Brentford, electrical work Troughton and Young Ltd, 143 Knightsbridge SW1, fire appliances, Independent Sprinklers, Sardinia Street, London, seating, carpets and curtains, Pathe Equipment Ltd, sound apparatus, Western Electric, neon lighting, Borough Electric Signs Ltd, Ranelagh Road SW1.
This was the Dalston Picture Playhouse of 1914, initial plans had an entrance on Ridley Rd but final plans had a full entrance onto the High Street, it seated 485 people with stalls and circle, it was a long tall and narrow building (purpose built) with a barrel vaulted ceiling, it stood on roughly the footprint of the current Poundland store which is a new building from when the whole area was redeveloped into the Kingsland Shopping Centre.
It didn’t seem to have much success and its licence lapsed in 1916, and by 1920 when a Mr Odell applied to reopen it he found the cost of repairs too heavy and it never operated as a cinema again.
Its architect was Ernest Cannell.
The ABC was destroyed by fire last night along with the School of Art next door according to press, images show the roof has collapsed https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/glasgow-school-art-fire-o2-12719173
the building was demolished in the early 90’s for housing
It was still operating as a bingo club in 1985/86 when i lived nearby
Site sadly virtually cleared, pictures added
Now the Retro Suite event space
Good article with some great interior shots before it was stripped out
http://www.demagazine.co.uk/architecture/so-long-hackney-rd-bingo-hall
Demolition has begun although the cinema has been totally stripped internally, a very sad sight
the building still stands as a small shop unit, it is now numbered No46, and stands on the north side of Stanborough Passage (which still comes up on google maps) a rough drawing of what it may have looked like attached
doing a bit of detective work, it seems that the buildings were renumbered in the 60’s and that the building that housed Fairyland is still standing, and the space behind it that housed the Amhurst Hall is part of the Kingsland shopping centre, and the cinema actually joined onto the Woolworths building sharing a odd shaped wall, and so may have survived longer – possibly into the 80’s or 90’s ?? map attached showing this and a page from the Dalston Guide from 1910 listing the businesses
Sadly the building is currently being demolished, I hope the signage was saved, but it looks like the beautiful marble lobby has been smashed to pieces. The owner wanted to redevelop and somehow in spite of being listed the consent to demolish was given. Another piece of Berlin history gone, in a rapidly changing city.
The frontage of the building dates from the 50’s and was possibly the result of wartime bomb damage due to this high explosive device in late 1940/early 1941 http://www.bombsight.org/bombs/27517/
new photos added of the 1910 planning application, the address though is 17/19 Dalston Lane. The plan shows the building pretty much as it is today internally. The projection room is listed as the Biograph Chamber and was at 1st floor level so the auditorium was very tall and very square. I have also added plans for an upgrade of the cinema and the addition of new toilets in 1916, so it must have been in operation until a later date than suggested.
Photos added to show that sadly the auditorium block of the Vogue was demolished for three new houses to be built in 2000
News reel footage of Gracie Fields opening the Dominion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTMVotAYeGw
Update – The cinema opened in December 1910 – i have added a press ad from the Hackney Spectator from that date. The cinema opened as the Electric Palace and was designed by Gilbert Booth, it became the Majestic in 1915 and after passing through several companies it was Capital & Provincial News Theatres who renamed it the Vogue in 1938, it was run as a sister cinema to the Classic in Dalston which shared a similar continental film programme.
This photo was taken from the balcony of the Kingsland Empire cinema
http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/heritage/return_of_the_abc_art_deco_cinema_could_be_back_after_33_years_1_4964158
Trade article on the reopening of the Kingsland Empire as the new Classic Cinema Dalston
The Rio Cinema Dalston making global news with its spoof prank on the La La Land/Moonlight Oscar fiasco http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/03/01/oscars-mix-up-inspires-cinemas-genius-la-la-land-prank-audience/
http://www.indiewire.com/2017/03/la-la-land-moonlight-london-movie-theater-cinema-prank-1201788778/
The interior has been completely gutted right back to the bare brick, which means there is no reason not to demolish the whole building, it will be replaced with a hotel and a basement cinema opening in 2019, and a frontage based loosely on the current facade, a sad end for a great survivor
Photo added showing the building around 1960 when it was Lyons Clothing Shop, and the auditorium had been split horizontally and windows and doors added onto Ridley Rd, at the right of the photo is a glimpse of the tiled frontage
correction to the listing – the floor plan shows it was 105 initially and then expanded into 107 cheers
From the IDEAL KINEMA Feb 10 1938
The Classic, Kingsland Road, London, which was opened recently to be run on a repertory policy by C. Seeman of the Classic Baker St, is a reconstruction of the old Kingsland Empire. The whole interior was gutted leaving the walls and roof, a new circle installed, and new waiting spaces, foyer, operating box and plenum chamber constructed. The front was remodelled and was designed to give full play to the elaborate neon scheme designed by the architect. The neon scheme consists of the word “Classic” in in Kingsland High Road, the letters averaging 10 ft high, and on the corner a metal and glass sign projecting 6ft 6 inches from the wall and 33ft high illuminated by banks of neon tube. A new canopy with an illuminated facia completes the remodelling. The interior is decorated in a modern style with sweeping lines, and the colouring is in a grey-blue and warm brown, and the seating in a dark red, which is set off by red festoon tabs. Contracts Main contractors, Parker and Addison, Streatham, fibrous plaster and decorations and front elevation treatment, Campbell Bros, 28 Albert Embankment SE11, exterior sign, canopy and ornamental metal work, Garton and Thorne, 44 St Pauls Crescent Camden Town, heating and ventilation, London Radiator Heating Co Ltd, Brentford, electrical work Troughton and Young Ltd, 143 Knightsbridge SW1, fire appliances, Independent Sprinklers, Sardinia Street, London, seating, carpets and curtains, Pathe Equipment Ltd, sound apparatus, Western Electric, neon lighting, Borough Electric Signs Ltd, Ranelagh Road SW1.
This was the Dalston Picture Playhouse of 1914, initial plans had an entrance on Ridley Rd but final plans had a full entrance onto the High Street, it seated 485 people with stalls and circle, it was a long tall and narrow building (purpose built) with a barrel vaulted ceiling, it stood on roughly the footprint of the current Poundland store which is a new building from when the whole area was redeveloped into the Kingsland Shopping Centre. It didn’t seem to have much success and its licence lapsed in 1916, and by 1920 when a Mr Odell applied to reopen it he found the cost of repairs too heavy and it never operated as a cinema again. Its architect was Ernest Cannell.
This cinema was an early design by W.E Trent