@Ken Roe The cinema was built for the Read, Snape, and Ward Circuit and the original build design was John Knight as well. The interior bears a remarkable resemblance to Salford’s Ambassador in much of the details of the plasterwork and other finishings.
An interesting detail is that when Fred Read died in 1933, John Maxwell the chair of the ABC circuit bought up his shares and was co-opted onto the board of the now Snape and Ward Circuit. They sold the Kingsway to Union Cinemas in 1936 and then a year later ABC took over Union Cinemas. I suspect Maxwell wanted to take over Snape and Ward but Alfred Snape was adamant it was not happening and in the Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 31 May 1934 Alfred Snape announced Maxwell joining the board and at the same time scotched any rumors of an ABC takeover.
I was part of the Ambassador Project group that tried very hard to save the Ambassador from the developer’s bulldozers there is a webpage all about the Ambassador the architect and the original owners https://bit.ly/TheAmbassadorSuperCinema
Having a rummage through my old “Ambassador Project” files from when we tried to save the Ambassador Cinema on Langworthy Road and found the facsimile we did from the original December 1928 opening night souvenir programme for The Ambassador Super Cinema, so I thought I might share an upgraded version of it on here. https://heyzine.com/flip-book/27b694514d.html (Best viewed on a tablet or desktop)
Still and empty and overgrown plot today 2019 shame they were in such a rush to demolish when they could have done something to retain the frontage. Typical
The council have a duty to ensure the fascade is kept due tothe grade 2 listing and should be taken to task through the local government ombudsman for not doing so A good architect could easily incorporate the fascade into a new building but they are either too egotistical or lazy to do so these days.
Out of all the Cinema chains in Manchester UK the AMC is the only one to offer proper framed pictures and a bit of theatrical pazaz. Would love the return of curtains and tabs in theatres though.
As for ads (commercials) and trailers just love them as they have always been part of my movie going experience. My fave and only advertising company is Pearl & Dean with its 60’s Asteroid intro music, pure nostalgia here in the Uk!!
Looks like the Alhambra’s days could be numbered as carlton have commenced work of a 2000 seat purpose-built leisure club in Dunfermline. Hope the locals press the council to do something to retain the Alhambra as a theatre/cinema venue or something in that vein.
Ed you should do this fulltime. I’d willingly pay for some 3d renderings of my favorite old cinema the Ambassador, Salford (sadly demolished last year)I have loads of photos amd acouple of movie files if you’d be interested. My email is
Went to the Odeon for the last time, so sad. One of the staff told me that the block next door was due for demolition ( its full of shops and offices still up and running so no prizes as to what will happen to the ODEON now!!!!!) Developers are such greedy, faceless selfish B****rds. Why do companies get away with this kind corporate cultural vandalism every time????
The only decent city centre cinema now is AMC at least they have screen tabs and some style unlike Printworks crap cinema crap architecture, crap presentation (or cinema MacDonalds style – even down to the spotty youths running it!!!)
For all the History of Salford’s Art Deco Gem & the people involved head to
https://bit.ly/TheAmbassadorSuperCinema
The Magnet was built for the Snape and Ward Circuit planning work started in September 1937
@Ken Roe The cinema was built for the Read, Snape, and Ward Circuit and the original build design was John Knight as well. The interior bears a remarkable resemblance to Salford’s Ambassador in much of the details of the plasterwork and other finishings.
An interesting detail is that when Fred Read died in 1933, John Maxwell the chair of the ABC circuit bought up his shares and was co-opted onto the board of the now Snape and Ward Circuit. They sold the Kingsway to Union Cinemas in 1936 and then a year later ABC took over Union Cinemas. I suspect Maxwell wanted to take over Snape and Ward but Alfred Snape was adamant it was not happening and in the Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 31 May 1934 Alfred Snape announced Maxwell joining the board and at the same time scotched any rumors of an ABC takeover.
I was part of the Ambassador Project group that tried very hard to save the Ambassador from the developer’s bulldozers there is a webpage all about the Ambassador the architect and the original owners https://bit.ly/TheAmbassadorSuperCinema
Original drawings and plans for this cinema can be seen here:- https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/hes/225407/methil-fisher-street-imperial-cinema
Having a rummage through my old “Ambassador Project” files from when we tried to save the Ambassador Cinema on Langworthy Road and found the facsimile we did from the original December 1928 opening night souvenir programme for The Ambassador Super Cinema, so I thought I might share an upgraded version of it on here. https://heyzine.com/flip-book/27b694514d.html (Best viewed on a tablet or desktop)
You can see a video of the opening of the ABC Studios here https://youtu.be/aR65ktZryhg no sound until near the end.
You can see the opening night production here with sound https://youtu.be/nul9REnzxPA
More information on the ABC Studios here http://abcatlarge.co.uk/welcome-to-didsbury/
Still and empty and overgrown plot today 2019 shame they were in such a rush to demolish when they could have done something to retain the frontage. Typical
The council have a duty to ensure the fascade is kept due tothe grade 2 listing and should be taken to task through the local government ombudsman for not doing so A good architect could easily incorporate the fascade into a new building but they are either too egotistical or lazy to do so these days.
Out of all the Cinema chains in Manchester UK the AMC is the only one to offer proper framed pictures and a bit of theatrical pazaz. Would love the return of curtains and tabs in theatres though.
As for ads (commercials) and trailers just love them as they have always been part of my movie going experience. My fave and only advertising company is Pearl & Dean with its 60’s Asteroid intro music, pure nostalgia here in the Uk!!
Looks like the Alhambra’s days could be numbered as carlton have commenced work of a 2000 seat purpose-built leisure club in Dunfermline. Hope the locals press the council to do something to retain the Alhambra as a theatre/cinema venue or something in that vein.
Ed you should do this fulltime. I’d willingly pay for some 3d renderings of my favorite old cinema the Ambassador, Salford (sadly demolished last year)I have loads of photos amd acouple of movie files if you’d be interested. My email is
Went to the Odeon for the last time, so sad. One of the staff told me that the block next door was due for demolition ( its full of shops and offices still up and running so no prizes as to what will happen to the ODEON now!!!!!) Developers are such greedy, faceless selfish B****rds. Why do companies get away with this kind corporate cultural vandalism every time????
The only decent city centre cinema now is AMC at least they have screen tabs and some style unlike Printworks crap cinema crap architecture, crap presentation (or cinema MacDonalds style – even down to the spotty youths running it!!!)
Odeon Faces Closure
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