Although one of the previous Flickr photos describes the cinema as closed, this was never the case – the bingo operation has been open constantly since the building ceased to function as a cinema, albeit with changes of management.
The attempt to re-introduce cinema screenings in light of the 2006 smoking ban was not full-time, but took place on quieter evenings of the week, with bingo continuing at all other times. This actually used DVD projection, although the original sound system was still used, with only the main speaker horn requiring replacement. The digital projector was situated in the original projection box, with the old 35mm projectors pushed to one side.
Cinema screenings took place
The occasional first-run film was shown using 35mm film projection on
hired equipment installed temporarily in the stalls – cinema seating was in the balcony only, the stalls having housed bingo tables fonow.
Although regular film screenings have now ceased, the building still screens the odd film, usually as part of a programme of events sponsored by Strathclyde Police, designed to occupy children during school holidays.
Bingo use continues more-or-less full-time again, as of 2008.
The listing was very welcome, and is part of the first batch of new and upgraded listings to result from our cinema thematic survey with Historic Scotland.
To clarify some of the info above, the hall was purpose-built as the Empire Electric Theatre, rather than being a conversion. That name is carved into the facade above the door – a feature hidden until bingo signage was recently removed. Some rudimentary stage facilities reportedly still exist in void areas behind the current stage. It closed as a bingo hall in 2006, with the company operating it blaming the smoking ban which had just been introduced in Scotland that year. Despite being listed as recently as May 2007, less than a year later, the council and their developing partners have purchased the building with the intention to demolish it, and build a new library, museum and elevated walkway on the site, to better link the new Asda supermarket behind the building to the existing high street. The architect of some of the later alterations to the building is said to be Alister G. MacDonald (spelling of his forename varies!), son of former Labour prime minister Ramsey MacDonald, who was best-known for designing the newsreel cinemas in London’s Victoria and Waterloo stations, as well as the Elgin Playhouse and the Broadway in Prestwick.
As well as having lost the foyer, the rear section of this building, including the projection booth and a fire escape, were demolished in 2007. Permission was applied for retrospectively for these alterations. A new application submitted in early 2008 now proposes to remove the stalls rake and stage, create a new larger glazed entrance in the sidewall, and open up the original windows and doors currently boarded up in the gable behind the proscenium area.
It was opened by William Beresford Inglis, who tended to design his own cinemas – certainly it resembles strongly another cinema of his in Glasgow. Later alterations circa 1930, possibly for sound, are attributed to John Fairweather.
Our records indicate that the Regal opened in 1939, and the architect was Lawrence Anderson Rolland. Photograph of the presumably modernised facade whilst the building was a bingo hall at the bottom of this page here – these came from a collection of photos dating from the mid-1980s:
Kelty’s other cinema was the Gothenburg, a conversion of a Gothenburg Hall. Pics and other material on that can also be found at the top of the page link given above.
The conversion to Littlejohn’s restaurant was largely sympathetic, with the stalls rake terraced over, the balcony boarded off for toilets and offices, and film projected onto the original screen with a video projector.
The conversion to Gong was an appalling infliction, completely hiding most of the original interior under false panelling.
In 2007, it was refurbished, and the opportunity was taken to remove much of this panelling, once again uncovering the fantastic ceiling ribs and plasterwork, and sidewall decoration. The modern glass canopy was replaced with a replica Edwardian one, although the Littlejohn’s version was perhaps more convincing. Sadly, new mezzanine wings were built along the sides of the auditorium, but these are glass-fronted and not completely ruinous. The original application proposed puncturing the unique Hennebique ferroconcrete ceiling for skylights, but this was thankfully dropped. In fact, the cinema made extensive use of Hennebique ferroconcrete, presumably for fireproofing reasons – the balcony, roof with its exposed structural ribs and the projection box at the rear stalls under the balcony all made use of this process.
As of Spring 2008, there are film shows projected digitally onto the former screen area during some evenings.
The planning application to convert the building to flats expires later this year (2008), and the building is once again on the open market, perhaps as a result of the successful bid Glasgow made for the 2014 Commonwealth Games – many of the venues and events will take place in the regenerated east end of the city where the cinema is located, currently a very rundown area.
Fascinating place to explore, what with the garden sprouting up in the roofless ruin, and the projection equipment slowly rusting in situ – extensive gallery here:
Last we heard (Feb 08) there was a structural problem with one of the derelict shop units flanking the entrance which may have require partial demolition.
A view of the proscenium from May 2008 is here, and a shot of the ballroom from the same time is here
Although one of the previous Flickr photos describes the cinema as closed, this was never the case – the bingo operation has been open constantly since the building ceased to function as a cinema, albeit with changes of management.
The attempt to re-introduce cinema screenings in light of the 2006 smoking ban was not full-time, but took place on quieter evenings of the week, with bingo continuing at all other times. This actually used DVD projection, although the original sound system was still used, with only the main speaker horn requiring replacement. The digital projector was situated in the original projection box, with the old 35mm projectors pushed to one side.
Cinema screenings took place
The occasional first-run film was shown using 35mm film projection on
hired equipment installed temporarily in the stalls – cinema seating was in the balcony only, the stalls having housed bingo tables fonow.
Although regular film screenings have now ceased, the building still screens the odd film, usually as part of a programme of events sponsored by Strathclyde Police, designed to occupy children during school holidays.
Bingo use continues more-or-less full-time again, as of 2008.
A photo survey and history can be found here:
http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk/scotland/lanark/
Photo survey and history here:
View link
Full history and photo survey here:
http://www.scottishcinemas.org.uk/glasgow/riddrie/
The listing was very welcome, and is part of the first batch of new and upgraded listings to result from our cinema thematic survey with Historic Scotland.
To clarify some of the info above, the hall was purpose-built as the Empire Electric Theatre, rather than being a conversion. That name is carved into the facade above the door – a feature hidden until bingo signage was recently removed. Some rudimentary stage facilities reportedly still exist in void areas behind the current stage. It closed as a bingo hall in 2006, with the company operating it blaming the smoking ban which had just been introduced in Scotland that year. Despite being listed as recently as May 2007, less than a year later, the council and their developing partners have purchased the building with the intention to demolish it, and build a new library, museum and elevated walkway on the site, to better link the new Asda supermarket behind the building to the existing high street. The architect of some of the later alterations to the building is said to be Alister G. MacDonald (spelling of his forename varies!), son of former Labour prime minister Ramsey MacDonald, who was best-known for designing the newsreel cinemas in London’s Victoria and Waterloo stations, as well as the Elgin Playhouse and the Broadway in Prestwick.
More info and pics here:
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Photograph at the top of this page here:
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Exterior photograph here:
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Recent exterior photograph here, as well as a gallery of archive interior shots when still a cinema:
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Photograph here:
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Photos, including interior pics (although these predate further internal alterations) at the bottom of this page here:
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This link also includes information and photographs of Bathgate’s other surviving cinema, the Pavilion.
As well as having lost the foyer, the rear section of this building, including the projection booth and a fire escape, were demolished in 2007. Permission was applied for retrospectively for these alterations. A new application submitted in early 2008 now proposes to remove the stalls rake and stage, create a new larger glazed entrance in the sidewall, and open up the original windows and doors currently boarded up in the gable behind the proscenium area.
Some mid-1980s photos here:
View link
It was opened by William Beresford Inglis, who tended to design his own cinemas – certainly it resembles strongly another cinema of his in Glasgow. Later alterations circa 1930, possibly for sound, are attributed to John Fairweather.
Our records indicate that the Regal opened in 1939, and the architect was Lawrence Anderson Rolland. Photograph of the presumably modernised facade whilst the building was a bingo hall at the bottom of this page here – these came from a collection of photos dating from the mid-1980s:
View link
Kelty’s other cinema was the Gothenburg, a conversion of a Gothenburg Hall. Pics and other material on that can also be found at the top of the page link given above.
Photos as a cinema and as it is now here:
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Exterior and interior pics here:
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Photograph of this very unusual building here:
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That pic above is the former Roxy in Kelso in the Scottish Borders. More info on that here:
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The Edinburgh Roxy is this one here:
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Photo of the distinctly un-cinema like frontage here:
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The sorry saga of our attempts to save this building documented here, with several galleries showing the ruined interior just prior to demolition:
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Forgot to add, the 2007 conversion also saw the venue renamed The Salon.
The conversion to Littlejohn’s restaurant was largely sympathetic, with the stalls rake terraced over, the balcony boarded off for toilets and offices, and film projected onto the original screen with a video projector.
The conversion to Gong was an appalling infliction, completely hiding most of the original interior under false panelling.
In 2007, it was refurbished, and the opportunity was taken to remove much of this panelling, once again uncovering the fantastic ceiling ribs and plasterwork, and sidewall decoration. The modern glass canopy was replaced with a replica Edwardian one, although the Littlejohn’s version was perhaps more convincing. Sadly, new mezzanine wings were built along the sides of the auditorium, but these are glass-fronted and not completely ruinous. The original application proposed puncturing the unique Hennebique ferroconcrete ceiling for skylights, but this was thankfully dropped. In fact, the cinema made extensive use of Hennebique ferroconcrete, presumably for fireproofing reasons – the balcony, roof with its exposed structural ribs and the projection box at the rear stalls under the balcony all made use of this process.
As of Spring 2008, there are film shows projected digitally onto the former screen area during some evenings.
Photos, including an explore of the badly water-damaged 1930s interior shortly before the 2004 fire, can be found here:
View link
The planning application to convert the building to flats expires later this year (2008), and the building is once again on the open market, perhaps as a result of the successful bid Glasgow made for the 2014 Commonwealth Games – many of the venues and events will take place in the regenerated east end of the city where the cinema is located, currently a very rundown area.
Fascinating place to explore, what with the garden sprouting up in the roofless ruin, and the projection equipment slowly rusting in situ – extensive gallery here:
View link
Latest planning refusal story here:
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Last we heard (Feb 08) there was a structural problem with one of the derelict shop units flanking the entrance which may have require partial demolition.
Another pic here, taken as a UGC, a name it briefly carried between being Virgin and Cineworld.
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Some more pics here:
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