The Forum Theatre, 9 Highgate Road, Kentish Town

Later - ABC Cinema / The Town & Country Club / O2 Forum

See also - The Forum Theatre, Fulham - The Forum Theatre, Ealing

Above - A Google StreetView Image showing the former Forum Theatre, Kentish Town in August 2021 - Click to Interact.

The former Forum Theatre, today the O2 Forum, is situated on Highgate Road in Kentish Town, North London, not far from Camden Town. Designed in the Italian Renaissance style, the Theatre first opened on the 17th of December 1934. This was a large Super Cinema style Theatre, a Cinema with a fully equipped stage for live variety acts, dressing rooms, a Compton Theatre Organ, played by Herbert Dowson at the opening, and an auditorium which could seat 2,175 people in its two levels, stalls and one circle, when it first opened. The Theatre's architect was John Stanley Beard who designed all three of Herbert A. Yapp's Wyanbee Theatres circuit of Forum Theatres; the Forum Theatre, Ealing, which was largely demolished in 2009 leaving only the facade in place, but was later replaced by a Filmworks Leisure Complex including an 8 Screen Picturehouse; The Forum Theatre, Fulham, which today is run by Cineworld and has six cinema screens; and this, the Forum Theatre, Kentish Town, currently a concert venue called the O2 Forum.

The Kinematograph Weekly reported on the opening of the Theatre in their 20th of December 1934 edition saying:- 'Sydney Howard performed the opening ceremony on Monday of the Forum, Kentish Town, H. A. Yapp's 2,000-seater in the Highgate Road.

Right - Sydney Howard being received by H. A. Yapp at the opening of the Forum, Kentish Town - From the Kinematograph Weekly, 20th of December 1934.

Associated with Mr. Yapp in control of the Forum is J. Stanley Beard, the well-known architect, who with W. R. Bennett, was responsible for the planning of the kinema. Sydney Howard on arrival was greeted by J. Stanley Beard, H. A. Yapp, E. C. Collingridge, and J. B. Cooper-Reade (manager). He was accorded a tumultuous welcome by the large crowds which overflowed the roadway.

A fanfare of trumpets opened the proceedings, and Mr. Yapp, in his inaugural speech, declared that the opening of the kinema marked the fulfillment of a long-wished desire - a picture theatre in Kentish Town. He went on to say that there had been a great deal of discussion in the Trade Press on the question of redundancy. "I can only say," he added, "that those who complain are the chief culprits." He mentioned that as the result of Sunday opening it was anticipated that the local church work would benefit to the extent of £500 or £750.

Mr. Yapp paid a warm tribute to those associated with the planning and the construction of the building, and mentioned, by name, the various contractors and sub-contractors. He concluded by mentioning that it was the seventh kinema with which he and Stanley Beard had been associated with. J. Stanley Beard said that it was the third Forum kinema which Mr. Yapp had opened, and the term "Forumistic" had become synonymous with all that was best in the music hall and kinematograph world. He paid a special tribute to W. R. Bennett, his partner, who was responsible for the details of the work.

During the course of the afternoon the following telegram was read:- The King expresses his thanks to those present at the opening of the Forum, Kentish Town, for their kind message of loyalty and good wishes. Sydney Howard, in formally declaring the building opened, dealt in a reminiscent mood with his recent visit to Hollywood. He added that his welcome that afternoon was in marked contrast to his reception by the Americans. He had been rapturously welcomed at that opening, but abroad he was received in frigid silence. "And as to this theatre." he added "let me say that for the people of Kentish Town it is built for 'em. I apologise for the pun," he concluded, amid laughter.

A fanfare of trumpets having been sounded, the whole audience joined in the singing of the National anthem. A dramatic effect was obtained by the gradual raising of the house lights as the singing proceeded, until at the end the auditorium was flooded in a blase of brilliancy.

The first film to be screened was the Pathe Gazette, followed by a kinematograph record of the construction of the building. The feature film of the programme was "The Church Mouse." The stage side of the programme included "A Musical Cocktail" by H. A. Dowson at the Compton organ, and the band show of Alfredo and his orchestra. The whole of the projection and screen installation was carried out by Walturdaw's, whose Ernemann projectors are fitted with W. E. Wide Range.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the Kinematograph Weekly, 20th of December 1934.

Forum, Kentish Town

Herbert Dowson at Organ Console

A nice article on the Forum Theatre's Compton Organ was published in the Kinematograph Weekly's 17th of January 1935 edition saying:- 'Following my usual custom I did not attend the opening ceremony of this new theatre, but made a casual and unannounced visit a few days ago, when I found everything working in the smoothest order with a good matinee house that seemed to prove that the local patrons were giving whole hearted support to the new venture.

Right - An Advertisement for Compton Organs as installed at the Forum, Kentish Town - From the Era, 2nd of January 1935.

The organ is a three-manual six-unit model, and has the latest solo cello device attached plus the usual type of illuminated console. The instrument is well up to the John Compton standard. Personally, I was rather surprised that a larger model had not been installed (say, another couple of units), with economy, if necessary, on the illuminations rather than the organ itself.

However, Herbert Dowson, who is the resident solo organist, demonstrated that he is an organist who certainly can play orchestrally, reproducing correct imitation of the tone colours of the original scoring of the Sullivan short pot-pourri presented.

No slides were used and they were not missed; in fact, the organ interludes are in danger of becoming mere musical accompaniments to slides by their over use. Here we had five or six minutes of good music, popular in appeal, well played, and which was so presented that it formed entertainment to everyone with any ear for music.

I am Very glad to welcome Herbert Dowson back to London again after his long visit to Southport, where he has been solo and broadcasting organist at the Trocadero, Southport, for, I believe, about four years. The more organists we can find who can reproduce the orchestral imitation for which the modern unit system was designed, the better for the future of the organ in kinema.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the Kinematograph Weekly, 17th of January 1935.

The Forum Theatre, Kentish Town, which is today a Grade II Listed Building, had first opened on the 17th of December 1934 for Herbert A. Yapp, and managed by H. R. Cooper-Read, but it was taken over by ABC a year later in 1935 who would much later rename the Theatre ABC in 1963.

Right - A Google StreetView Image showing the side and rear elevations of the former Forum Theatre, Kentish Town in august 2022 - Click to Interact.

ABC closed the Theatre however, on the 18th of July 1970 and it was then altered for Bingo use. This wasn't to last long though, as it would soon became a Ballroom and then a concert venue called The Town & Country Club. Later still the Theatre's name reverted to the Forum again when it was operated by Live Nation, still as a Concert Venue, and today it is known as the O2 Forum.

You may like to visit the O2 Forum's own Website where they have some very nice photographs of the Auditorium and Foyer here.

Some of the information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.