ABC started in their franchise areas with two converted cinemas. In Birmingham it was a cinema which had started life as a theatre in 1893, the Astoria, Aston, which they shared with ATV. For the North it was the Capitol at Didsbury, which was split into two studios (additionally there was a small studio for presentation). In London they took over the old Pathe studio in Wardour Street, for simple magazine/interview shows.
They found it difficult to get the actors they wanted for their dramas to travel to Didsbury, and took over the empty film studio of Warner Brothers in Teddington in March 1959 as a London production base. This later became the home of Thames Television.
ABC also maintained general offices in Hanover Square in London as well as in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.
Enquiries about ABC archive material should be addressed to:
Canal Plus Image UK Ltd
