abc cinema

Demolition of the ABC Cinema – Cambridge Road Hastings 1971

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photo © Hastings Public Library

Leigh Kennedy… Demolition of the ABC (Ritz) Cinema, Cambridge Road.  December 1971.

Eric Harmer… Minors

Leigh Mitchell… Yep, I was there the night before it closed to see Le Mans, I’d only moved to Hastings in September 1971!

Tracy Birrell… ABC Minors.

Chris Baker… Never went to ABC Minors, it cost money, which we didn’t have in those days.

Steve Fox… Yep, I was a minor. That was our Saturday morning.

Tony Davis… Loved that place. First ever gig I went to there Cliff and the Shadows 1963

Jackie Hersee… Tony, I was there too. Remember it well

Lynn Graham… Tony, and I was there. Front row seat A12

Colin Bell… I believe i remember reading it was the largest cinema in Europe when it first opened, it was criminal to see it demolished, i was a very happy ‘Minor’ in the 50’s & early 60’s

Micky Erends… really loved this cinema , went there most weeks throughout the early 60s with my school mate Mick Collins

Mick Boss… should never have been demolished the interior was brilliant

David Martin… Mick, that’s Hastings Council for you

Jeff McCall… You might remember Anne Shelmerdene, her dad was manager. Went to the ABC Minors there – such a shame to have seen it go!

Carol Arnold… Yep went to ABC minors …saw Cliff Richard there…sad.schoolfriends dad was manager there

Linda O’Leary… loved going to Saturday morning ABC Minors when I was a child. I was on the stage once trying to eat a bar of chocolate with a knife and fork

Eric Harmer…  it was great Linda

Monica Bane… Singing We are the boys & girls just a happy crowd are,!

Alan Esdaile… I can remember kids going on the stage when it was their birthday. I think they got a free badge, sweets or free admission ticket for next week. Mind you I’m pretty sure some of them went on stage regularly!

Andrew Clifton… Yes, we got sweets and a badge for our birthday. Alan.

 

 

 

 

ABC Cinema Hastings October 1971, Showing Steve McQueen Le Mans film

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supplied by Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

Remember Skinners next door?

Jacqueline Hillier… ABC Minors 6d to get in. Loved it every Saturday Morning. That’s where ESK is now … Oh What Fun Happy Memories

Matt Thomas… I remember it more as Sainsburys

Linda Hollands… Remember well as a cinema,Sainsburys and now Esk

Pete Shaw… Linda, Sainsburys, then The. Co Op and the ESK…. (East Sussex and Kent!!)

Linda O’leary… Use to love going to ABC Minors on a Saturday morning sixpence to get in what fun xxxx

Lloyd Johnson… is that the ABC ‘Ritz’?…I saw The Shadows there!….and Buster Grabb as Flash Gordon on Saturday mornings at Minors!

Alan Wood… Loved that cinema

David Martin… “ We’re Minors of the ABC”

Pauline Richards… David, still remember the song all these years later!

Martin Ellis… Loved Saturday mornings at the ABC Minors

Leigh Mitchell… I went to see Le Mans the night before the cinema closed, I only arrived in Hastings the month before!

Mick O’Dowd… Saw Billy Fury there but missed Cliff Richard.

Trevor Mepham… I remember being dragged up on stage to have a photo taken with a group of other kids. Lance Percival was the reason. Still, photo in the Observer the following week

Linda O’Leary… Trevor, I remember going on stage in a competition eating a bar of chocolate with a knife and fork!

Matt Thomas… Greens!!! Was that the same cafe next door?

Tony Court-holmes… used to get in through one of the back doors

Steve Glover… Yes, remember going to see Le Mans there and How The West Was Won back in 1962

James Graham… Google 2024 photo…

Tracy Birrell… I went to ABC Minors every Saturday morning .

Kevin White… hi Tracy Birrell, I remember going to ABC minors too, I remember you from school. C.A.May’s-class.I hope you’re doing well, where did all that time go.

Tony Davis… Remember seeing Cliff Richard and Billy Fury there

Jacqui Dann… Happy memories. Went with my brother and cousin. “we are the minors ABC”.

Steve Martin… I remember The minors. Absolute riot some weeks.

 

Helen Shapiro, Eden Kane, The Vernon Girls – ABC Cinema Hastings 28th November 1962

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cuttings supplied by Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection. photo Nationaal Archief in Netherlands 1963

Joe Knight…..Do you remember when she first came on tv just a school girl !! the voice seemed to be someone else’s

Andre Palfrey-Martin….Not bad for a 13 year old – great start to the 60s music scene.

Jim Breeds….Eden Kane, Peter Sarstedt’s brother.

Richard J.Porter….Saw Peter Sarstedt at White Rock. I think Eden Kane lived in Peasmarsh

Sarah Harvey…..Helen Shapiro – Walking Back To Happiness…. whooopa oh yeah oh yeah! Am I showing my age?

Andy Qunta.. Several well-known names. I would love to go back in time and see these shows! Anyone have a time machine I could borrow? 😉

Barry French… In 1962 when I nine years old living in Brentwood Essex, my Mum was a volunteer helping with the local youth clubs in the area. Each year they had a big bash at the Keys Hall (A big venue on the outskirts of Bentwood). Top of the Bill in 1962 was Eden Kane. Well, that night my Mum & big Sister were in the Keys Hall Kitchen in charge of hot dogs & soft drinks, while I sat in the corner by the draining board totally bored out of my mind. Eventually news that Eden Kane hadn’t turned up filtered through to the kitchen.
As the night wore on I remember lots of foot stomping from the crowd & cry’s of “We want Eden we want Eden”. As I sat in my corner, I heard a tapping on the kitchen back door . Above the mayhem I told my Mum “Some ones knocking on the door” When she opened it, there standing, was a scruffy unshaven Eden Kane. With a very cultured accent he apologised for being late & asked if he could have a wash & brush up. My mum being star struck, eventually answered “Of course Mr Kane”.
He then took a bag off his shoulder, stood by the sink, next to where I was sitting & proceeded to take off his shirt, run hot water & then have a shave. While doing this he was talking to me the whole time asking “what music I liked, what do you want to do when you grow up etc.” When he was all shaved up he got a clean shirt out of his bag, tapped me on the head, kissed my mum & sister on the hand & thanked them for use of the facilities (made them both go giggly) left the kitchen & walked the length of the hall with the crowd cheering & screaming. He then joined his band on stage & had a brilliant night. In between his shaving I asked for his autograph, which he scribbled on a scrap of paper. I shall now have to go up into the loft to see if I can find it !!!.

Andy Qunta…  Brilliant story! Love it!

Nick Prince… Not forgetting Robin Sarstedt Jim.

Monterey Pop & The Cream films – ABC Cinema 10th March 1971

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monterey

cream farewell

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part press cutting supplied by Nigel Ford

Andy Qunta… Never mind Monterey Pop & Cream, what about Percy!

Colin Norton… Yes, I agree with Andy! What about Percy? Great fun, Kinks soundtrack!

Natasha Kaschevsky… Was just watching Monterey last Sunday!

Phil Gill… A 15 year old Roger Carey and a 14 year old me were there at the 7:30 showing, eyes wide open and completely mesmerised. We knew even then what we wanted to do in life.

Jan Warren… Love Jimi, Love Cream too!!…  but do you really want my opinion on PERCY?? – haha

Chris Meachen… I was there, probably with Roger Sleet…

Ralph Town… Anyone under 40 won,t know what Percy was about lol.

Alan King… Little known fact : – Beverley Martyn played the Monterey Pop Festival and was (sadly) booed off (I think the same applied to Judy Sill as well – though memory fading a bit on this one)

Tony Court-holmes… remember seeing all of those

Cliff Richard & The Shadows – ABC Cinema Hastings – 27th March 1963

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supplied by Andre Martin Collection

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 supplied by….Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection

cliff 1962

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supplied by Tony Davis – gig list including Hastings inside the cd.

Phil Gill….I was there, aged 6. It was the most awesome thing I’d ever seen. Better even than when my dad’s shotgun exploded and knocked him flat on his back, which was the most awesome thing I’d seen up to then. Eight weeks short of my seventh birthday then. Used to have my copy of the programme, not sure if I do now though.

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Funeral In Berlin – Michael Caine Film – ABC Cinema March 1967

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Dennis Torrance… I thought this film was about 1965 and billion dollar brain was 1967

Nick Prince… It was basically a sequel to the Ipcress Files (1965), with the same characters etc etc. It was filmed in 1966 and released 23rd December, 1966 in the USA and 22nd February, 1967 in the UK.

Dr Who & The Daleks film – ABC Cinema Hastings – August 1965

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Alan Esdaile… I remember going to watch this. Looks very weak now, looking at the trailer.

Stuart Huggett… The colours are lovely but the Daleks are hardly deadly in it (I think only one character gets exterminated). It’s not a patch on the absolutely terrific sequel!

Paul Crimin… Wow. Went and saw this with my Dad and brother when I was a kid.

Ian Quinnell… Went to see this with some friends. Was great at the time.

Lyn Humphrey… Being a Dr Who purist in ’65, I didn’t go to the cinema to see this, as to my mind it WASN’T Dr Who–how could it be when everyone knew the real Doctor was William Hartnell?

Coco Pops… The Big Job was Hilarious!!