O2 ABC Glasgow
The O2 ABC from Sauchiehall Street, with the Glasgow School of Art to the rear.
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| Former names | Diorama, Panorama, Hubner's Ice-Skating Palace, Hippodrome, Hengler's Circus, Waldorf Palais, Regal Cinema, ABC |
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| Address | 286-326 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 55°51′57″N 4°15′51″W / 55.86581°N 4.26405°WCoordinates: 55°51′57″N 4°15′51″W / 55.86581°N 4.26405°W |
| Owner | Academy Music Group |
| Type | Nightclub, music venue |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Comedy, Dance, House, Indie |
| Capacity | ABC1: 1,300 ABC2: 350 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1875 |
| Opened | 2005 |
| Renovated | 2002-2005, 1887-1889, 1927- 1928 |
| Expanded | 1967 |
| Website | |
| www |
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The O2 ABC is a nightclub and music venue on Sauchiehall Street, in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city. The building was constructed in 1875, renovated many times in its lifetime and also largely rebuilt in the 1920s. The building has been used for numerous functions before being finally converted to its current purpose between 2002 and 2005. In 2009, the Academy Music Group took a majority stake in the venue, rebranding it the O2 ABC. The venue is protected as a category C(S) listed building. In March 2009; the Academy Music Group became the major stockholder of the O2 ABC.
In November 1929 ABC opened its flagship cinema. The architect who designed the building was named: CJ McNair. As this was to be ABC’s flagship cinema it also seated a total of 2,359 people. The cinema was a conversion from an older building. The building was originally built in 1875 as the Diorama. In 1878 it was renamed as the Panorama. 10 years from the building’s creation; in 1885 the building was then completely transformed to become Hubners Ice Skating Palace. In 1888 the building was one of the first in Glasgow to have electricity,
The next phase of the building's life was when it was renamed the Hippodrome. The building became the home of the then popular: "Hengler’s Circus". When the circus was not putting on shows the building was used once again for the purpose of showing films to the public. In 1927 the building reverted into the function it was originally built for, a dance hall. The building consisted of a ground floor car park while the second floor was the main dance hall.
When the dancehall was renovated in 1929 the building retained the majority of its original architecture. the roof structure, the ground level of the building remained the car park while the dance floor became the stalls of the cinema. The ground level also had a small entrance area that consisted of 2 box-offices. The main entrance of the cinema was reached by the twin staircase; which is still there today, as well as the option of two lifts to use. The actual auditorium; which consisted of seats on ground level and above, with balconies overlooking the stage, seated a total of 2359 people.
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Wikipedia