Out of town. Behind the closed A.B.C cinema Wakefield

Off-topic discussions, musings and chat
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Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

I know you folks like your closed and lost cinemas & i've been trying to get around the mothballed Leeds Odeon by asking them for permission but they still saw fit to say no & rip it all out without it even been recorded on film, Anyway this wasn't going to happen again so we moved a few miles out of Leeds for the next best thing which is the A.B.C cinema (formerly the Regal) Closed in 1996 There is serious flooding in there but everything still remains as it was, So if anyone has fond memories of the place then we've posted a team effort article and report herehttp://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=24450Hope you enjoy!    
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

BIG N
Posts: 419
Joined: Thu 06 Dec, 2007 10:29 am

Post by BIG N »

Brilliant shots there guys - well doneGot to ask - how did you light the projection box for that shot from the audiotorum (spelling?) - that is one hell of a good shot

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Thanks Big N. Yes i lit all those shots with a 2 million powered candle torch, I got my mate to shine it out of the projectionist window On a 30 second exposure for that one. Those torches are brilliant for this type of thing although you only get 20 minutes of use out of them. You need a few in reserve         
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

jf
Posts: 208
Joined: Sat 17 Mar, 2007 3:56 pm

Post by jf »

I was contract administrator for the demolition of the huge Regal/Cannon cinema in Hull a few years ago (which probably makes me the enemy ), I held keys to the place for about 4 years and spent hours wandering around surveying the place and exploring. One day when I have a spare afternoon I'll have to go on 28days and add some pictures and stories. It was a huge 5-screen affair which shut in 1989, though some of the shops around the ground floor remained in use (which usefully added security - the place was untouched by vandals, other than the pigeon variety which had left a deep carpet of droppings in some areas and 15 years of rainwater seeping through the building fabric). These places can be real rabbit warrens, especially after decades of recladding and rearranging (this was a single screen, originally 2,500+ capacity) - I was finding new areas on every visit. You'd find the odd poster remnant or bit of food packaging from the time it closed.

Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

That would be good to see those pics J.F.I can't find out exactly why the cinema is flooded. I know the Calder burst it's banks in the 30's & flooded the cinema, It's a depth of 6' in the lower cellar so there is an awful lot in there. I wonder if it was a bad leak going unnoticed for ages?    
A fool spends his entire life digging a hole for himself.A wise man knows when it's time to stop!(phill.d 2010)http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/

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