Savoy/ABC Cinema, London Inn Square

Replacing the New London Inn

This cinema is fondly remembered by many Exonians who visited in the war years to forget the bombing and during the post war period, to enjoy a Saturday night at the pictures. Set back from the High Street, it was designed by W R Glen in 1936, in a Thirties, art deco style. Commissioned by Associated British Cinemas who were formed in 1928, the company also ran cinemas under the Regal and Ritz names. Their new cinema would be built on the site of the New London Inn, which they purchased on 29 September 1935 and closed on 2 November 1935.

Built of contrasting brick and plaster, by Brazier and Son of Southampton, the front echoed the lines of the bridge of a ship. To the right of the entrance, and integral with the cinema, was the New London Inn, named after the well loved inn that was built in 1793-94 and  demolished in February 1936, ready for the cinema's construction. The ABC was well suited to the existing shape of the land on which it was built, with the front curving around the corner on the right side, much like the New London Inn. The gigantic steel girder used in the construction was believed to have been the largest in the city with a length of 100ft, depth of 8 ft, width of 2 ft and weighing 25 tons.

The auditorium seated 1224 in the stalls and 734 in the circle. The sound system was by Western Electric, later RCA. It also had the very latest in 1930's air-conditioning installed. It was estimated to have cost between £6,000 and £7,000 to build.

The first show

The first films to be screened on Monday 23rd November 1936 were Shirley Temple in 'Captain January' and 'A Star Fell from Heaven'. The organist Harold Stringer from the Regal, Torquay, was at the console of the 3 manual and 6 rank, Compton Super Organ. He went on to perform on the organ on a regular basis, broadcasting concerts for the BBC.

Saved from the incendiaries

During the bombing of 4th May 1942, both the Savoy and the nearby Theatre Royal survived the raid, although most buildings around were destroyed. A report at the time stated:

'The Savoy Cinema, another steel framed structure, appears to have received 18 fire bombs on its roof. Four penetrated and were dealt with by the fire watchers, who say that here the H.E. which hit the nearby Plaza, sent up a big sheet of flame. The fire guards saved the Savoy Cinema'.

Another report stated:

'Fire also broke out in the New London Inn which is underneath the Savoy Cinema, but was held by the fire guards and extinguished.'

She loves you, yer yer yer....

Renamed the ABC in 1960, the cinema's stage was used for many pop concerts, and the Beatles gave three shows, the first supporting Tommy Roe and Chris Montez on the 28th March 1963. Part of this show was recorded for BBC 2's 'On the Scene'.

They then performed on 14th November 1963 and 28th October 1964 as the headline act. The show of the 28th October was sold out 8 weeks before. On the way to the ABC for the 8 o'clock show, the Beatles transport got lost, causing them to miss the meeting at Honiton with a decoy van, and arrive for the show with only minutes to go. Ringo was asked what had happened and he remarked that the driver had taken the wrong turning down a lane (this was before the M5 motorway) but that they had found a very nice 'fish and chip shop'. They went on the stage to face a theatre full of screaming fans.

Ann Moore a young fan at the time recalled:

"I cried all the way through. Someone put their arm around me and didn't know who it was. We couldn't really hear the music because of all the screaming."

See the Beatles at the ABC

The next act to appear at the ABC was Cliff Richard and the Shadows on 18th November 1964. Other acts appeared on the stage over the years including Morecambe & Wise, on the 15/16th October 1971 and Roy Orbison and Frankie Howard.

In 1972, the ABC closed for twinning, when the organ was removed and the interior rebuilt to give the 504 seater ABC 1, the 128 seater ABC 2 and the stalls became a bingo hall. On the 25th January 1973 the ABC opened with the Godfather on screen 2. The open area at the front of the building, London Inn Square, was a favourite meeting place for Exonians - in 1980 a vigil was held there after the murder of John Lennon.

The Last Picture Show

The ABC, now named the Cannon projected its last film 'Personal Services' starring Julie Walters and 'Top Gun' with Tom Cruise, on 17th October 1987. Just like the previous New London Inn, many artifacts from the demolished cinema were sold off to cinema enthusiasts. Cinema curtains, lights and solid oak firedoors were all disposed of. Signatures left by the Beatles after one of their shows were discovered on one of the walls.

And the replacement for the Savoy? a branch of Dillon's the bookstore.

Sources - Discovering Exeter, Twentieth Century Architecture by Eduardo Hoyas-Saavedra, Exeter Burning by Peter Thomas, Express and Echo 31st March 2003, the website www.albanyward.com and Clive Carmock
© 2005 David Cornforth - not to be used without permission
│ Top of Page  │