SCOTTISH CINEMAS AT RISK

A small - and far from exhaustive! - selection of some of the more notable cinemas at risk in Scotland at the current time...

N.B. The Scottish Civic Trust maintains a central listing of all notable buildings it considers to be at risk; the list may be consulted at www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk

Govanhill Picture House

49 Bankhall St. 926, architect EA Sutherland. B-listed.

Unusual Egyptian-style facade; the interior is greatly altered after many years use as a warehouse.

Derelict for several years; interior has recently been used for paintballing tournaments and is in unknown condition.

A current planning application for demolition, with only the central portion of the facade retained, has been passed by Glasgow City Council.

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Olympia - Glasgow

4 Orr Street, Bridgeton. B-listed. Opened Sept. 1911 as Olympia Theatre of Varieties - architect Frank Arthur (exterior) & Frank Matcham (interior).

Interior rebuilt for cinema use 1938 by McNair & Elder. Closed in 1974; later used for bingo then a furniture warehouse; derelict for last few years. Auditorium badly water damaged.

Planning permission is in place for demolition behind partially retained facade and the construction of new flats; no work has yet taken place on this, and a recent fire has further damaged the building.

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Coliseum - Glasgow

97 Eglinton Street. B-listed. Opened 1905 as variety theatre, architect Frank Matcham.

Rebuilt as cinema 1931 by WR Glen. Rebuilt for Cinerama 1963 by LC Norton. Closed 1980; later used for bingo, now derelict.

Building currently derelict; there is no sign of any attempt to put it up for sale or find alternative uses for the building.

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New Victoria - Edinburgh

7 Clerk Street, Edinburgh. B-listed. Designed by WE Trent in 1930.

Closed in 2003, after subdivision into 5 screens. Subdivision was carried out reversibly; original decoration (including classical statues in alcoves, original light fittings, and starlight-style ceiling) was preserved. Recreation of original proscenium was created in Screen 1 (original balcony).

Plans involving retaining the facade but demolishing the auditorium for flats were recently withdrawn; an application to obtain an entertainment license for the building was also unsuccessful. The building is currently sitting empty.

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Rex - Stonehouse

Argyle Street, Stonehouse. B-listed. Opened in 1937, this is probably the best preserved small town cinema in Scotland.

After closure in the mid 1950s, it was used for storage, and apart from the removal of the stalls seating, everything is just as it was when the cinema opened. The original projectors are in situ, the tabs and screen are in place, the seats in the balcony and carpet are original. Even the gas secondary lighting system is intact.

This is an amazing time capsule of a cinema that completely belies its plain exterior.

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