PDA

View Full Version : Archived: Wakefield ABC Regal Cinema - July 08



freebird
06-09-2008, 09:07 PM
This was the last explore on a list of 3 sites during a Wakefield area road trip. The Wakefield Regal Cinema first opened in Dec 1935 and was designed by William R Glen III, the architect employed by Associated British Cinemas. This was one of his first designs and is typical Art Deco style and seated 1,594 people. The Cinema is a proscenium theatre complete with its own arch and in the beginning held stage performances by the West Yorkshire Operatic Society amongst others as well as cinema showings!
In 1962 the name changed to the Wakefield ABC and in Nov 1976 it became a three screened cinema: Screen 1 having 532 seats, screen 2 having 236 seats and screen 3 having 170 seats. The cinema later known as the cannon finally closed in 1997 a year after a large cinema complex opened its doors in Wakefield!

After making our way through the murky waters of the flooded ABC cinema we encountered strange noises such as footsteps in water, banging doors and creaking sounds and crept around the place in order to discover the cinemas delights. Here are some pics:-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2815162737_3d7d8afc8a.jpg

The Main Foyer

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/2815173735_d5e3885450.jpg

Screen 1 from up in the balcony. The proscenium archway in its full glory!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2816028580_d5b7c6e45a.jpg

Eerie on the top of the balcony!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2816030178_720d894394.jpg

From the central entrance up towards Screen1 projection booth.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2815182213_4b4185ae2d.jpg

original brass pipework!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/2815180647_248a430af7.jpg

Staircase to Screen 1 projection booth.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2807455360_5a173f759c.jpg

Screen 1 projection booth.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2816035162_e56c0283f2.jpg

The view of the balcony seats from Screen 1 stage. Screen 2's seats can be seen peeping through the collapsed wall of screen 2! The back of screen 3 is on the right.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2816013846_38b028010b.jpg

Hooks at the side of screen 1 stage.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2816016436_69280bdb09.jpg

The loft space 40ft above the proscenium. Making our way across this was fun!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2816018568_bd9c7d6aec.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2816017986_eb1ebb9b37.jpg

From inside looking towards where screen 2 once was!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2815169291_8275862fa0.jpg

Looking up towards screen 3's side of the joint projection booth.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2816027168_1790a60c6f.jpg

Screen 2 & 3's joint projection booth.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2815174399_715927c712.jpg

Out through a projection booth window.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2816025346_57d68e7984.jpg

Battery room.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2815190809_1fb9ed0caa.jpg

Out in to the night!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2815165351_ebcc69a5b0.jpg

Some night shots of the surrounding area from the roof.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2145/2815190085_e1b076967c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/2815187965_ab6637e3e7.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2816042506_de1626e7a0.jpg

I thoroughly enjoyed this explore and hope you enjoyed my pics. Thanks for looking. :)