Hello Folk I am a new subscriber to this list although I do sub to several others. I have just discovered my g grandfather Henry (Harry) Bernhard(t) probably owned a chain of picture theatres back in the earlier days of the 1900s. The name ABC was mentioned. His occupation was listed as "magic lantern maker" on birth certs of his children. He was married to Elizabeth Johns(t)on about 1880 in Durham - apparently one or both of them lived at a place called Spennymoor. The family story (which so far is fairly accurate) has him running fish and chip shops but always moving on to start a new one, leaving his wife to pack up the children and follow wherever and whenever he sent for her. One day she had had enough and the next time he moved on, so did she! He took up with a new lady but never married her nor apparently divorced my g gran. I do not know anything about this lady and possible or even probable family resulting. I have had from more than one family member that he died a rich man and left it all to "Miss ****" not Mrs Bernhard who was my g gran. Again from several sources, someone in the family searched for the will at somerset House but it was quite definitely all left to this "Miss" whoever. A search using google on ABC cinemas Bernhard London brought up a web site with the following snippet of information. <<<working on a nationwide chain of new movie palaces going under names such as Regal, Savoy and Ritz. In addition to the building programme, the ABC circuit grew through acquisition - one of the most notable being the October 1937 purchase of David Bernhard's Union Cinemas outfit, which had foundered as a result of its own regrettably over-ambitious construction schedule. A 1936 attempt to take over the Gaumont-British circuit from the Ostrer brothers proved abortive, the cinemas eventually becoming part of the Rank Organisation. In all, by 1945, ABC had 415 cinemas in operation.>>> I would appreciate any information anyone may be able to give me on this "David Bernhard's Union Cinemas outfit" or indeed on David or Henry Bernhardt and his family or families. Also, is there an easy way I can find the contents of Henry's will? Living on the other side of the world, I can't just call in! And of course if there is anyone else researching the same families, I would love to hear form you. thank you Dawn (Melbourne, Australia) researching Bernhard(t) (Durham and maybe Bradford) Firth (Bradford) Bossingham (Cambs / Norfolk) Burrows (Oxfordshire).