The ABC Cinema, Snig Hill, City Centre

For me it is a crying shame that the ABC(Associated British Cinemas) cinema is not still there. It was Sheffield's last built large modern cinema. This wasn't a theatre of the first world war, but a huge (87 foot wide) modern age auditorium, which could be still in use today for all kinds of presentations, shows, lectures, concerts etc..

Built in 1961, the cinema had one large auditorium with 1327 seats, described as a stadium layout. There was no balcony, but the last section of 430 seats, known as the Lounge, were set at a much greater slope. The panoramic screen was 60 feet wide, which was the widest in Britain, and it was adjustable and could have its shape and size automatically adjusted to five preset types. It was one of the most advanced cinemas of it's time, the sound system could handle ten magnetic tracks, as well as the standard optical track, and to produce the sound, there was a very advanced speaker system, consisting of five seperate loudspeaker positions behind the screen. Which is close to a description of a modern audio-visual sound system.

Here, I have used an old photo of the ABC cinema, to mark out some of the features of the cinema onto the new building. I know it isn't great, but perhaps something better will show up one day.

The building was made of pre cast concrete, with a light weight decking roof and a frontage of attractive portland stone, and glass. There was also some shop units in the front of the building, as the entrence foyer only extended to about a third of the frontage.

As an occasional visitor to the place, from an early age, saturday mornings used to be minors matinee, when anyone with a youthful face got in for 50p, and enjoyed a programme, which started with the singing of the "Minors of the ABC" song, and was hosted by an evuncular character, called Uncle "something-or other" before proceding with 60 or 90 minutes of short films until half time, where the usherettes would sell ice creams etc. then sitting down to the second half which would be a feature of daring doo, or some other child friendly excitement, until being turfed out blinking into the midday sun, before a tuppence journey home on the bus back to Hillsborough.
It was a real shock at the time (in 1988) to find out that such an impressive, useful, and relatively young building had been torn down in a great hurry, and seemingly for no other purpose than to be a derelict bomb site car park for ten years.

This, even though it was the city's most advanced cinema was in existence for only 27 years. This is really something to be ashamed of. It was probably killed by the video recorder, and lack of support from the city fathers, who didn't realise what a crime it would be to allow this building to be destroyed.

. . . And now it is too late, Both the twin crowning gems of sheffield cinema excellence the Gaumont and ABC are no more, and it's too late to do anything about it.
It is interesting to relate than in 2004 there are twice the amount of cinema visits than there were 15 years ago in 1989. And the cinemas make almost all their money on the sale of popcorn and coke. In my most recent visits, a small bottle of water is much more expensive than a pint of strong lager, which I often drink on the way home in one of the local pubs. They might make £1 or more on one bottle.

You can see some historical pictures of the cinema by following this link to sheffield library services
Press C and select Cinemas

Summary - ABC