ABC Muirend/Toledo

The ABC cinema (originally called the Toledo), on Clarkston Road in the Muirend area of Glasgow, existed from 1933 to 2001. At the time of its closing, it was the second oldest working cinema in Glasgow, Scotland.

History

The ABC Toledo cinema was originally opened on 2nd October, 1933. It was designed by William Beresford Inglis, who also built other cinemas in Glasgow. He also designed the Beresford Hotel, notable for its very cinema-like design, which is now the Beresford Flats.

The design is a rare Scottish example of an Atmospheric Cinema; there were only ever around five cinemas built in this style in Scotland (others include the Campbeltown Picture House and Edinburgh's New Victoria. The Toledo interior was designed to give a feel that the patron was sitting outside in a Spanish courtyard, surrounded on either side by small false buildings and painted landscapes, with a ceiling above painted blue to feel like sky. Even more rarely, the exterior of the building was also in a Spanish style.

Originally seating 1,598 people in a single screen, the auditorium tripled in 1982, when the interior of the building was refurbished. The new Cinema Screen 1 comprised of the original circle area, with a brand new screen, which now sat an extra 482. Cinema Screen 2 had 208 seats in the old front stalls and used the original proscenium opening. Cinema Screen 3 had 90 seats in the old rear stalls.

Closure

Eventually, the time of the cinema came to an end. Glasgow City Council's Development and Regeneration Director, Rodger McConnell, said 'the fabric of the 1933 building has deteriorated so badly it would require a substantial upgrade and repairs.' Indeed, the building was so run-down inside at time of closure, the heating system had been broken for over a month. During that time, the management had hung signs all over the public areas of the building stating that, since they would be closing soon anyway, there were no plans to fix the heating. Fewer people went to the cinema because it meant having to wrap up inside the cold screens.

Plans came through to use the site of the former Muirend ABC on Clarkston Road, in the south side of the city, to build upmarket flats. Cala Homes wanted to build 30 two-bedroom homes.

The planned development angered Cathcart MP Tom Harris and local residents, who insisted the building should be kept as a cinema. Harris asked for a decision on the future of the B-listed building to be deferred for a year to allow him to try to find an alternative cinema operator. Unfortunately, he later admitted that a new operator for the venue could not be found. Harris said: "I wrote to all the major chains, as well as the independent companies I could identify. However, they all said the same thing... that it was just not worthwhile."

Since no firms showed any interest in taking over the venue, Harris and the residents of Muirend had to accept the new use of the building. Harris made the following statement:"I am disappointed because, while I am not averse to having flats in that area, there is virtually nothing there for young people to do. And although I am reluctant to see the cinema disappear, it is fairly clear now that I am not going to make any headway. The new building will be very impressive - but that is not much consolation to people in the community who have nothing to do in their area."

Cala Homes said that they intended to retain and restore the Art Deco frontage of the cinema, which would be extended onto the rear car park, since it was a listed building. They also planned a new internal foyer to be created which would incorporate elements from the original cinema. Urns that decorated the interior would be re-used, with lighting features and tiles being incorporated along with some of the scenes painted onto panels in the building.

Finally, on the 21st October 2001, the cinema closed down for good. The cinema owners, Odeon, ultimately blamed the opening of multi-screen cinemas elsewhere in the city for the fall of the old venue. On its final night, the cinema marquee read: :TOLEDO:1933 TO 2001:THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT

Present

Now, the site holds the new flats, as built by Cala Homes. Everything except for the front has been demolished, and new flats were constructed behind that. Additional windows were added to the frontage. The entrance foyer to the flats feature reproductions of some of the decorative features rescued from the auditorium, and a couple of tiles and light-fittings.

External links

* [http://www.tomharris.org.uk/Toledopics.php Gallery of interior photos taken just after closure]
* [http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk/glasgow/toledo.html ABC Muirend / Toledo]
* [http://cinematreasures.org/theater/12356 Cinema Treasures|ABC Muirend]
* [http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSA00305 Exterior photo 1933]