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, the building was boarded up, signaling its impending demolition, the death knell for The Ambassador tolled. Despite the valiant efforts of The Ambassador Project group and supporters, the money men in suits, developers, politicians, and financial pressures had sealed its fate. By April 19th, 2004, after seventy-six years of entertaining the local community, the beloved Ambassador Super Cinema was gone.

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)

Forlorn Image, the Ambassador Shortly Before Demolition

A haunting image of the Ambassador, standing in its final days, the ghosts of its former glory gathering to mourn as the cinema awaits its inevitable demise.

The Auditorium Already Gone, as Well as the First Tower

This shot shows the empty space where the auditorium once stood, with the first of the two iconic towers already demolished.

The Left-Hand Tower Gone

A poignant image capturing the absence of the left-hand tower, marking the slow erasure of this beloved landmark.

Last Remnants of the Foyer Block

A view of the foyer block, one of the few remaining sections of the building, now standing isolated as the rest of the cinema is demolished.

Café Windows Demolished

With the café windows removed, the original oak paneling from the 1928 interior is briefly exposed, offering a final glimpse of the Ambassador's once-elegant café space.

Exposed Canopy Steelwork

The lattice steelwork of the original canopy is now visible, likely integrated into the Mecca foyer extension.

Visible Steel Support Beam

One of the large steel support beams can be seen, revealing the sturdy infrastructure that held the cinema’s structure.

Foyer and Remaining Tower

Only the foyer and one of the iconic towers remain standing, a stark reminder of the once-grand Ambassador.

Marble Staircase Exposed

The elegant marble staircase is revealed as the gable is stripped away, giving a glimpse of the building's former luxury.

Second Staircase to Balcony Exposed

One of the main staircases leading to the balcony is now visible, part of the architectural bones left behind.

Café Oak Paneling Revealed

Hidden behind plasterboard, the original café oak paneling is finally exposed, giving a glimpse into the building's elegant past and its true height.

Café Landing Area Exposed

The exposed remains of the café landing area, briefly revealing a part of the cinema’s original layout as the structure is dismantled.

Only One Tower and Foyer Base Left

Just one of the iconic towers and the base of the foyer block remain, standing amidst the cleared demolition site.

Original Canopy Steel Lattice Visible

The steel latticework of the Ambassador’s original canopy is now exposed, a skeletal reminder of the once-grand entrance.

Back Wall of Stalls and Foyer Block

The ground floor of the foyer block remains, with the back wall of the former stalls area visible as one of the last interior remnants.

Large Skip Waits Hungrily

A large skip stands ready to transport the final remains of the building, taking the Ambassador's history to landfill.

Last Remnants of the Tiled Façade

Only a few fragments of the magnificent, once-proud tiled façade remain, marking the end of an era for the landmark Ambassador Cinema.

Nearly All Gone

Most of the Ambassador has been reduced to rubble, with only a few structural remnants standing.

Demolition Grabber at Work

The demolition grabber gnaws at the remaining tower like a mechanical dinosaur, devouring its prey.

Crushing Victory

The grabber sits triumphant after crushing the remaining structure, a sombre end for the Ambassador, which deserved a much better fate.

Acanthus Leaf Frieze

A piece of ornate Acanthus leaf plasterwork from the auditorium, sits battered and broken amongst the red brick of the demolished reminants.

Skeleton Ready for Scrap

The skeletal remains of the Ambassador are stacked, awaiting removal as scrap, a final stage of destruction.

Mecca Bingo Signage

The old Mecca Bingo sign, torn from its original hoarding, a relic from the cinema’s later bingo years.

Broken Flooring and Walls

Flooring and partition walls lie shattered, like a pile of matchsticks, the remnants of what was once a beautiful Art Deco Cinema.

Old Bingo Seating

Discarded bingo seating, carpet, and signage from the cinema’s Mecca Bingo era, a poignant reminder of its last use.

Carved Wooden Trim

Fragments of a once-elegant carved wooden trim with a Grecian seascroll meander, a remenant of quality and craftsmanship we won't see again.

An Epitaph

This excerpt from "Half Penny, Two Penny," a Styx track from their Paradise Theatre album, a fictional account of Chicago's Paradise Theatre from its opening in 1928 to its closing in 1956 (and subsequent demolition), serves as a poignant and familiar epitaph for grand cinemas like the Ambassador.

Amidst the sounds 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."

A fitting tribute to the loss of these once-magnificent picture palaces, swept away with greed, indifference, progress and politics.

RIP Ambassador Super Cinema, 1928 - 2004, you deserved better,