O2 ABC, Glasgow

The night club and music venue on Samchiehall Street was built in 1875, but it had to go through many incarnations since to attain its present state. It was first known as the Diorama in 1875. Ten years later it was renamed Panorama. What justified the name change is not clear. In 1885 it was transformed into Hubners Ice Skating Palace.

Three years after the incarnation as an ice palace it became one of the first buildings in Glasgow to have electricity. That must have helped with the ice. Next it was circus time, and the new name was the Hippodrome, home to Hengler's Circus.

When the circus was out of town the building was a cinema. In 1927 it realized its true purpose, it became a dancehall. In 1879 It returned to being a cinema but with four screens. Finally the cinema closed in 1999 only to reopen in 2002 as O2 ABC. It became a night club for three events during the week and a venue for live music performances.

In June 2018 the building was heavily damaged by fire that had spread from the Glasgow School of Art, next door. A warrant application has been made to the City Council to demolish the building. Looking forward to the next incarnation. Go Glasgow!