ABC Cinema, Liverpool
{{Short description|Former cinema in Liverpool}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox building
| name = ABC Cinema
| image = File:ABC Cinema, Lime Street, Liverpool.jpg
| caption = ABC Cinema
| location = Lime Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| alternate_names =
| building_type =
| coordinates = {{coord|53.4062|-2.9792|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| elevator_count =
| architectural_style = Art Deco
| architectural =
| roof =
| cost = £200,000
| floor_count = 6
| owner =
| current_tenants =
| start_date =
| completion_date = 1931
| floor_area =
| architect = A. E. Shannon
William R. Glen
| main_contractor =
| references =
}}
The ABC Cinema is a Grade II listed{{National Heritage List for England|num=1208090|desc=ABC Cinema (formerly Forum Cinema)|access-date=13 July 2017}} building located on Lime Street, Liverpool, England. The cinema was once a part of Liverpool's entertainment scene until closing in 1998. Since then, the building has lain empty with plans announced in 2016 for its redevelopment into an £11 million music venue.{{cite web|title=Forum (Liverpool)|url=http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/2102-forum-liverpool|publisher=Theatres Trust|accessdate=2 June 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Liam|title=These new images show how Liverpool's ABC Cinema could look|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/new-images-show-how-liverpools-11812827|accessdate=2 June 2017|publisher=Liverpool Echo|date=28 August 2016}}
History
Built for ABC Cinemas, the six-story building was designed by William R. Glen and Alfred Ernest Shennan for £200,000 with a maximum capacity of 1,835 people. Originally opened in 1931 as "The Forum", ABC Cinemas renamed it in 1971 to the "ABC Cinema" and later split into three individual screens in 1982.{{cite web|last1=Neild|first1=Larry|title=Lime Street ABC cinema to be sold for £1|url=http://confidentials.com/liverpool/lime-street-abc-cinema-to-be-sold-for-1|publisher=Liverpool Confidential|accessdate=2 June 2017}} In 1986 the cinema was yet again renamed, becoming "The Cannon" until its closure in 1998.{{cite web|title=Cannon Liverpool|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6521|publisher=Cinema Treasures|accessdate=2 June 2017}} The building has been temporarily reopened for use as an exhibition space for the Liverpool Biennial in 2016.{{Cite web|title=Revisiting Liverpool|url=https://www.biennial.com/blog/13/10/2016/www.biennial.com/blog/13/10/2016/revisiting-liverpool-abc-cinema|access-date=2022-02-02|website=www.biennial.com|language=en}}