The Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

Image: © Gerald England Taken: 21 May 2014

The Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Palatine Road, Northenden is the largest Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in the area. The building was originally the Forum Cinema which opened on 22nd November 1934, and was a project of the independent Forum Cinema Company. The building is designed in a stylish "Jazz Modern" Art Deco style and has seating in stalls and circle. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 3Manual/8Rank theatre organ which was opened by organist Kevin Buckley. The Wurlitzer had originally been installed in the Cameo Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It also had a fully equipped stage and large stage house and dressing rooms, which in the early years hosted an annual pantomime. There was also a ballroom and a cafe for the convenience of its patrons. From 15th April 1936 the Forum was taken over by Associated British Cinemas (ABC) and they operated it for the remainder of its cinematic life. It was re-named ABC in February 1964 and was advertised as the ABC Wythenshawe. The ABC closed on 23rd February 1974 with Bruce Lee in "Fist of Fury". http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/22563 (Cinema Treasures) The building was used for several years as a live theatre, known as the Forum Theatre. It was taken over and became an Assembly Hall for the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1976. It is a Grade II Listed building http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-485461-assembly-hall-of-jehovahs-witnesses-

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