This web site is powered by muesli provided by Second Nature in Wood Street.
Film fans wait after ABC closes THE cinema in Hoe Street will close on Sunday, and will re-open on Friday showing only Asian films. And it is thought the borough may have to wait for at least two years for a main stream cinema. A multiplex has been pencilled in for a redeveloped Selborne Walk in Walthamstow town centre, but progress is slow. A council spokesman said: "We don’t have a definite site. We’re still in discussion and will give details as soon as they are agreed. "The big issue is how quickly it will happen. There are lots of things that are outside the council’s control." He added it could take at least two years. The grade-two listed ABC cinema celebrated its 70th birthday earlier this year by showing a film from each decade, was said to be "not commercially viable" by owners Odeon. The sale of the cinema was concluded in August, but staff only found out about the change of ownership last week. All staff will retain their jobs when it opens as an EMD cinema, showing so-called Bollywood films. Rory Stammers, manager of the ABC cinema, said: "It was a bit of a shock. We haven’t got a clear picture of how it will work." Ernie Mills, who was a member of staff at the cinema for 50 years. said: "It’s the end of an era. "That building is a landmark in Walthamstow it’s just as important as the town hall. "I know it’s already been sold, but where do we go from here? "Cinema-goers will have to travel to Woodford or Stratford." New owner Mohan Sharma said he wanted the cinema to continue showing main stream films but a clause in the contract prohibits English language films. There is speculation that Odeon which merged with ABC earlier this year — insisted on the clause to protect its business with the multiplex in Woodford. Mr Sharma, who also runs a clothing factory in Whitechapel but has no experience of running cinemas, said: "It’s just a hobby, I’m trying to diversify my business. "When my wife saw the building, she fell in love with it." Mr Sharma intends to build a small chain of Asian cinemas in the south east. An Odeon spokesman said: "The cinema was not commercially viable in the long term. "There are other cinemas reasonably nearby and some of the people of Walthamstow must be going to those sites." Waltham Forest Independent Friday, November 24, 2000
Cinema may fail screen test as contract comes into question DOUBT was expressed this week over the legality of conditions laid down when Odeon sold the historic ABC cinema in Hoe Street, Walthamstow. The contract, at Odeon’s insistence, included a controversial clause that forbids the showing of English-language films. It says that films must be in "one of the ethnic languages of India". Waltham Forest is now the only London borough without a cinema that can show English-language films. Mohammed Khan, of Waltham Forest Racial Equality Council, said: ‘We have received several telephone calls about this. We will write to the cinema on behalf of the indigenous people of Walthamstow. "The issue is a breach of the Race Relations Act. I will be seeking the advice of the Commission for Racial Equality." Cllr Bob Wheatley, Liberal Democrat councillor for the High Street ward, put his weight behind the complaint. He said: ‘This is against the principles of equal opportunities. The way Odeon has gone about it is an abuse of power. A spokesman for the Office of Fair Trading said: "We have not received a formal complaint on this. If people want to write in, we will look at these particular circumstances. "In previous cases, the closure of cinemas has not fallen foul of competition law. It must have an appreciable effect on the marketplace. "The last report was in 1994. Maybe we need to look at everything again. Odeon merged with ABC earlier in the year to become the UK’s largest cinema chain with a 26.5 per cent share of the market. Since the merger, Odeon has embarked on a nationwide strategy of closing down the 1east profitable cinemas and concentrating on multiplexes. An Odeon spokesman said: ‘The cinema was not commercially viable in the long term. There are other cinemas reasonably nearby and some of the people of Walthamstow must be going there. "This is a perfectly legal contractual clause. We cannot say anything further. This is commercially sensitive information." New owner Mohan Sharma has been approached by local film fans who want to use the cinema for other foreign language films. He is open to alternative uses but is restricted to showing only films that are in "one of the ethnic languages of India". The new Bollywood style cinema opens tomorrow with a free showing of Fiza, a film about a Bombay family torn apart when the son disappears to become part of a terrorist organisation. It then begins regular programming on Saturday. Mr Sharma was optimistic that the cinema would be popular. He said: "The preparations are going well — it should be okay. I’m looking for a full house." Waltham Forest Guardian November 30, 2000. Walthamstow edition.
By Tim Woodcock WALTHAM Forest’s last remaining cinema has been sold and from the start of December will show only Asian films. The ABC cinema in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, will close on Sunday and reopen under a new name of EMD. A clause in the contract forbids the showing of English language films. Rory Stammers, manager of the ABC cinema, said: "It was a bit of a shock. We will be closed for a week from Sunday and will open again on Friday, December 1. We haven’t got a clear picture of how it will work yet." Duty manager Judy Donaghie said: "The staff are all safe. It has been sold as an ongoing concern and their rights are being transferred." The contract was signed in late August, although the 16 members of staff only found out the details of the take over last Wednesday. The new owner, Mohan Sharma, lives in Chigwell and runs a clothing factory in Whitechapel, but has no experience of running cinemas. He said: "It’s just a hobby, I'm trying to diversify my business. ‘The Odeon wanted a clause that it is not used as a cinema. It is a concession that we can show Indian films. I tried to plead with them I would like to show all kinds of films." He also bought the ABC at Gravesend in Kent at the same time and is on the lookout for other cinemas in the south east. There was speculation that Odeon, which merged with ABC cinemas in February, insisted on the clause to reduce competition for its cinema in Woodford. Odeon already has a 26 per cent share of the cinema market. Ernie Mills, who worked at the Hoe Street cinema for 50 years, said: "The cinema was my second home. That building is a landmark in Walthamstow it’s just as important as the town hall. "I know it’s already been sold, but where do we go from here? Cinema goers will have to travel to Woodford or Stratford. "I’m not speaking for myself, but for the people of Walthamstow. I want to see that they have got a cinema to go to." Pippa Richardson, a keen cinemagoer and a member of the Cinema Theatre Association, said: "A clause in the sales contract says that no English language films will be shown after it becomes an Asian film centre. "Not only do I find this highly discriminatory, but I’m really shocked at the loss of the amenity." Mr Sharma said he had no major plans to change the cinema, which is a grade two listed building, other than to install a larger screen. He said: "When my wife saw the building, she fell in love with it." The EMD cinema will open on Friday, December 1, with a free showing of a Bollywood film called Fiza at 5pm. A council spokesman said ‘From a planning point of view the council has no control over what films can be shown in a cinema. "A possible long term solution would be a conventional multiplex in the town centre providing a range of films for local people. There are plans for redeveloping Selborne Walk and this may include a multiplex cinema. But there is no guarantee this will happen and, even if it does Walthamstow will be deprived of a mainstream cinema for at least two years. Ernie Mills (left) and staff of the soon to close ABC cinema New owner Mohan Sharma
Waltham Forest Guardian November 23, 2000. Walthamstow edition.
Have a say over the future of the ABC By Colin Joseph WALTHAMSTOW residents are being urged by English Heritage to take part in a major consultation which will decide whether the ABC cinema in Hoe Street should be given a special listing status. The final decision on the fate of the cinema, which is already a Grade II listed building, will rest with Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. English Heritage however, which recommends that the cinema should be upgraded to a Grade II* listed building believe public support could influence his decision. If the cinema -- formerly the Walthamstow Granada-- was given this status it would be even more difficult to make alterations to it without approval from English Heritage which oversees listed buildings. It would also make it eligible for Government grants. Some of the reasons why English Heritage want the cinema to have special listing status include a Spanish-style frontage, an imposing classical foyer and an impressive auditorium inspired by a palace in Granada. Sir Jocelyn Stevens, chairman of English Heritage, said: "This consultation will give everyone a chance to let us know which cinemas they love most and want to save. I hope people will respond vigorously." The cinema, which was originally opened opened in 1931 by Granada at a time when cinemas were in many exotic styles, is one of 123 listed cinema buildings in England of which only a third are still in use. The public can give their views by writing to Cinema Listing, English Heritage, 23 Savile Row, London W1X 1AB. Yellow Advertiser, December 15, 1999. McGuffin note: Walthamstow is one of only three cinemas in Britain with a working organ, still showing films. There's a revival of interest in showing silent films at the moment. If Walthamstow closes where are they going to be shown?
|
