A sad end

the Ambassador - 1928 to 2004

 

The sad end to an iconic example of a wonderful era of cinema in Salford. 

In February 2004 boarding up for demolition commenced as the death knell for The Ambassador tolled. Despite the heroic efforts of the Ambassador Project group and supporters, the money men the suits developers and politicians got their way. By April 19th 2004, after seventy-six years of providing entertainment and a focal point for the local community the grand old lady, the Ambassador Super Cinema was no more.  

All photos below came from Andy who volunteers at the sister cinema to the Ambassador, the Plaza in Stockport. 

(Click on the images below to enlarge)

The forlorn image of the Ambassador shortly before demolition

The auditorium already gone as well as the first tower 

The left hand tower gone

Auditorium gone with just the last remnants of the foyer block

With the Cafe windows demolished the oak paneling of the original cafe interior can be seen 

Here you can see the lattice steelwork of the original canopy exposed, this must have been incoroprated into the extension 

Here one of the huge steel support beams can be seen

The foyer and one of the towers are all that's left

Marble staircase exposed as gable stripped away

One of the main staircases to the balcony exposed

Exposed Oak panneling hidden behind plasterboard

Cafe landing area exposed

Just one tower and base of the foyer block left

Steel lattice work of original canopy seen

The ground floor of foyer block showing the back wall of stalls

Large skip awaits to take the remains away to landfill

The last remnants of the magnificent tiled facade left

Nearly all gone

The demolition grabber gnaws at the remaining tower like a mechanical dinosaur

As it sits crushing and devouring its prey triumphant at its destruction RIP The Ambassador, you deserved better!

Acanthus leaf frieze plasterwork from the auditorium

Skeleton of the Ambassador stacked, ready for scrap

Old Mecca Bingo signageripped from its original hoarding

Flooring and partition walls broken and stacked like matchsticks

Old Bingo seating, carpet and signage

Remenants of a carved wooden ballastrade

Excerpt from " Half Penny Two Penny," a Styx track from the Paradise Theatre Album, retelling  the  demolition of Chicago's Paradise Theatre.. 

Over the sound of demolition... 

"Come here - hey Angelo... what's happenin'?"
"Hey, Stosh, good to see ya"
"What the hell you doin'?"
"We're tearing this old building down here"
"Oh you're kiddin' me. Remember when we were kids, and we used to come here every Saturday afternoon to see a cartoon?"
"Yeah, I remember"
"Well what's she lost to?"
"Who knows- politicians, taxes... it's a disgrace"
"I'm not surprised, they make me sick. They don't make theaters like this any more."