ABC Cinema Mural,
George street, Luton
The old ABC cinema is an Art Deco building at the heart of George Street in Luton town centre. The building was once a thriving cinema that has now been closed for several years. A key part of the local heritage, the building is in some disrepair internally and awaiting longer-term development. The age of the building means that there is asbestos internally, which required specialist removal. A time consuming and expensive process.
While the site awaits development, mural artist Sarah Hodgkins of Charlotte Designs was commissioned to make the cinema frontage more attractive and create a much needed focal point for the area.
The aim is to make a sympathetic and colourful front façade for the building that complements the wider environment of the town centre, brightening the area and enabling increased footfall and placemaking.
The Building
Designed by William R. Glen, an in-house architect working for Associated British Cinemas (ABC), the 1,892 seat Savoy Cinema opened on 17th October 1938. The Art Deco styling was very fashionable at the time and is echoed by much of the architecture you can see around you, including the Town Hall, visible at the far end of George Street. If you look behind you, many of the buildings retain elements of Art Deco styling, particularly on the higher areas.
The cinema closed in April 1971 and was gutted for tripling, emerging as a three screen complex in September 1971. It was renamed Cannon in April 1986. When a new 10-screen Cineworld multiplex opened just a short walk down the street in 1998, the Cannon was renamed ABC once again and continued for another two years, finally closing in November 2000. At this time, no definitive plans have been agreed on the future of the building.
ABC Cinema before the murals were installed. January 2025.
Art Deco
Art Deco is the name given to a new style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s. Originating in France, it captured the prosperity and glamor of post-World War I modernism and advancements, with its classical influences, geometric motifs, and streamlined architectural styles. Many of the Art Deco values and themes fitted neatly into the requirements for the ABC Cinema in Luton and were the guiding principles during the design of these murals.
Geometric Forms
Strong emphasis on symmetry, straight lines, and precise geometry, including shapes like zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts, and stepped patterns. These unsurprisingly will fit in well with the architecture of the building and others I the immediate area.
Bold Colours and Contrast
Rich, vibrant hues with metallic tones like gold, orange, navy and black. These fit well with the Luton Town football team colours. High contrast designs that emphasize patterns and textures will also help make the mural visible from a distance. Every character in the mural has metallic gold on them somewhere, can you spot it?
Streamlined and Modern Motifs
A focus on sleek, aerodynamic forms influenced by advancements in transportation (e.g., cars, trains, and airplanes) and the use of industrial motifs and machine-inspired elements to reflect the optimism of technological progress fits in really well with Luton’s past and present industries.
Eclectic Inspiration
Incorporation of global influences, such as Egyptian, Aztec, and Asian motifs, reflecting the fascination with archaeology and international cultures during the era. This echoes Luton’s diverse culture and incorporating these influences will be a key element in this design.
Stylised Ornamentation
Emphasis on elegance and sophistication with decorative flourishes that are not overly intricate but refined and stylish.
Mural Design Explained
Sarah talked to the local community about what they would like to see and what themes would be of interest to them. She launched a survey and took the varied feedback into account when designing the mural. Two initial designs were put forward and the community invited to vote for their favourite. The design you see here was the overriding winner and was painted by Sarah during March 2025.
The main requirements that came from the survey and consultations with the public, were making the cinema colourful, make it meaningful to Luton and to bring hope to the area. Other themes that were also mentioned were bringing some nature into the mural and introducing a nod to other art forms such as film making, music and the carnival. Taking these themes in mind whilst staying true to the Art Deco heritage of the building, Sarah came up with this design which received over 1500 public votes over a 2 week period.
The design features a city street with a park in the background, there are stylized clouds and an aeroplane. The cityscape is part Art Deco and part futuristic, symbolising the bringing together of the past and the future. There is a 1930s Vauxhall car and an androgenous person sitting on it, again, both very Art Deco in theme. The centre section is essentially the front of a 1930s cinema, with Art Deco architecture and steps down. There are two posters either side of the doors, one shows ‘Blinded by the Light‘ film poster, a 2019 film made in Luton and featuring many scenes on George Street; the other a Myles Smith poster, a Luton based artist enjoying success internationally. These were both public suggestions. The section turning along George Street West is more of an evening scene, representing the use of the area as both a daytime and evening hub. It shows a jazz band and dancers, a nod to both the Jazz age and to the Luton carnival. This is where I have put the Instagram opportunity, with the Art Deco street lamp providing a spotlight for people to take their photo with the Jazz band and dancers. One respondant was keen that the mural included a nod to the new Luton Town Football Club stadium, that at the time of painting, was in the planning phase. Can you spot this?
The upper section features a sunrise image, a universal symbol of hope and widely used in Art Deco art. It also has sigificant meaning in Aisian, African and American cultures, reinforcing the ideals of ‘Inclusivity’ and ‘New Beginnings’. The sunrise image is flanked by traditional Art Deco styling and proudly has LUTON as it’s main feature text.
The fascias are purposfully simple in their design, so as not to over shadow the upper and lower murals. They compliment the mural’s style and colour palette and show both historic names of the cinema, The Savoy and ABC Cinema. Both these elements were printed and installed by The Treacle Factory.
Introducing your Artist
Sarah Hodgkins is an award winning mural artist with 20 years experience of designing and painting murals for businesses, councils, hospitals, schools and private individuals. You can read more about her journey here.
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