The Apollo sits on the corner of Hyde Road and Stockport Road at Ardwick Green.  This art-deco former cinema was built in 1938 to a design by Peter Cummings and Alex M. Irvine.  The L-shaped structure contained a main auditorium capable of seating 3000 people, a dancehall, and a cafe. 



I remember this cinema with a great deal of affection.  I used to go there most Saturday mornings to the ABC Minors Club and along with what seemed like thousands of other kids we watched the usual combination of cartoons and shoot-em-up cowboy and science fiction films.  I also remember going there to see a film with my parents and standing in the rain in a queue that ran all the way from Hyde Road along two sides of the building and on to the Stockport Road entrance.  Those were pre-television years in many houses.



Since the images here were taken, the Apollo has been rebranded as the O2 Apollo, a Carling concert venue with seating on the circle and standing below.  It has a capacity of 3.500.