Movie Palaces #111 - A visit to the beautiful APOLLO THEATRE, Stockport Road and Hyde Road, Ardwick Green, Manchester. Opened 29th August 1938. Architects Peter Cummings and Alex M. Irvine. Decorative design Mollo and Egan. Holophane Lighting director R. Gillespie Williams. 2750 seats. Taken over by ABC 31st January 1943 and renamed ABC 1962. The cinema opened with a COMPTON THEATRONE Organ played by REGINALD NEW. Nothing more was heard of the Theatrone but a Compton Pipe Organ was installed in December 1938 and opened 19th December by SYDNEY GUSTARD who played for the week. The Compton had six units, Diapason, Tibia, Flute, Gamba, Trumpet & Tuba plus Melotone unit. The instrument was installed in under-stage chambers, with the console on a lift centre orchestra pit. The theatre was taken over by an independent 30th January 1977 for live shows and occasional films and renamed Apollo - Open for Business - quite amazing in this day and age!

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