Associated British Cinemas (ABC) was a cinema chain in the United Kingdom. A wholly owned subsidiary of Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), it operated between the 1930s and the late 1960s. The brand name was resurrected briefly in the 1990s. Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production company active from 1927 until 1970. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... This article is about brands in marketing. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

History

Associated British Cinemas was established in 1927 by solicitor John Maxwell by merging three smaller Scottish cinema circuits. It became a wholly-owned cinema subsidiary of British International Pictures when it was merged with Maxwell’s British National Studios production arm. John Maxwell was the name of many notable people including: John Maxwell (artist) (1905 – 1962), Scottish artist. ... Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production company active from 1927 until 1970. ... The former British National Studio is located on Clarendon Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, UK. It is currently used by the BBC and has been in continuous use since its opening in 1927. ...

During the thirties it grew rapidly by acquisitions and an ambitious building programme under the direction of chief architect W.R.Glen who maintained a distinct house style. Existing cinemas which could not be re-modelled were usually operated as separate circuits. In 1937, the parent company, BIP was renamed Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC).

After his death in 1940, his widow Catherine sold a large number of shares to Warner Brothers, who eventually became the largest shareholders and able to exercise control. By 1945 it operated over 400 cinemas (usually called the Savoy or Regal) and was second only to Rank's Odeon chain. Warner Bros. ...

Television led to a sharp decline in cinema attendances during the 1960's although ten years previous the ABPC expanded into the new medium with the creation of Associated British Cinemas (Television) Limited, which as ABC Weekend Television won the Independent Television contracts for the North of England and Midlands at the weekend (and would eventually become Thames Television). Associated British Corporation (otherwise known as ABC Television or ABC Weekend TV) was one of a number of commercial television companies set up in the 1950s by cinema chains in an attempt to safeguard their business by getting involved in television which was taking away their cinema audiences. ... Independent Television (ITV) is the name given to the original network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up to provide competition to the BBC. In England and Wales the channel was recently rebranded ITV1 by ITV plc who own the regional broadcasting licences for the regions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

As a result of the decline many suburban theatres closed. Most of those remaining lost their individual names and were simply ABCs. In 1967, Seven Arts, the new owners of Warner, decided to dispose of its holdings in ABPC and it was subsequently bought by EMI, who then sold on the cinemas to the Golan & Globus "Cannon Cinemas" Group, having retained the ABPC's lucrative television interests. Seven Arts Productions was founded in 1957 by Ray Stark and Eliot Hyman. ... The EMI Group (LSE: EMI) is a British music company comprising of the major record company EMI Music which operates several labels, based in Brook Green in London, England, and EMI Music Publishing, based on Charing Cross Road, London. ...

The chain was sold again in 1993 to MGM and became known as MGM Cinemas. Due to the challenge inflicted by the growth of multiplex cinemas, the chains finances continued to suffer and it was sold yet again, this time to the venture capital group Cinven who reverted those cinemas remaining to the ABC name in 1998. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... Cinven is a European private equity firm founded in 1977 with offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Milan. ...

In 2000 Cinven bought over the one time rival chain of Odeon Cinemas for £280 million from Rank Group plc [1] and all ABC Cinemas were rebranded as Odeon or were closed. In 2004 the Odeon chain was sold to Terra Firma Capital Partners. 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rank Group plc was established on December 22, 1995 as a public limited company in England and Wales and in October 1996 it became a holding company owning all the outstanding shares of the Rank Organisation. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Terra Firma Capital Partners is an venture capital firm based in London, UK. It was formed as a spin-off company from Nomuras Principal Finance Group in 1994 and has invested £4. ...

Whilst the majority of the those former ABC cinema which remain open are now branded as Odeon one member of the chain had retained the ABC brand located in Bournemouth. However, all of the Butlins holiday camps have an on-site ABC cinema. Bournemouth is a large town and tourist resort, situated on the south coast of England. ... Butlins Holiday Camps were founded by (later Sir) Billy Butlin to provide economical holidays in the United Kingdom and Ireland. ...