Caley Picture House

Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland

31 Lothian Road

, Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom EH1 2DJ

(map)

+44.0131.221.2280

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Deco, Beaux-Arts

Function:	Concerts, Live Performances
Seats:	1900
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	John Ross McKay, James McKissack, James Smith Richardson
Firm:	Richardson & McKay

Built in 1922, the Caley Picture House opened on 1st January 1923 with "Game of Life". Designed in a Beaux-Arts style by architects' J.S. Richardson & J.R. McKay. The original seating capacity inside the auditorium was provided for 900.

In 1928 the size of the building was increased to the designs of architect James McKissack of the John McKissack & Sons architectural firm. The designed the splendid new entrance to the right of the building which contains a beautiful staned glass window, also the wing parallel to the road with shop units and the Art Deco treatment of the auditorium, which had its seating capacity increased to 1,900. The proscenium was 50 feet wide and was elaborately decorated.

Because of its wide proscenium, the Caley Picture House was well suited to be the first in the city to be equipped with Cinemascope. The first film in this process; Richard Burton in "The Robe", opened here in February 1954 for a season.

In 1983, the Caley Picture House was sold and it closed in 1984. It was converted into a discotheque in 1986, operating as Century 2000 and Revolution. This later closed and the building stood empty and unused for several years until it was renovated by the MAMA Group and re-opened as a concert venue; 'The Picture House' in September 2008.

On 12th December 1974, Historic Scotland designated the Caley Picture House a Grade B Listed building.

Related Websites

Picture House - Edinburgh (Official)

Contributed by Ken Roe

YOUR COMMENTS

This link claims that the building was used as a public house and nightclub. The date given at that link is March 2003, so the building might be empty today.

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 4, 2008 at 2:44pm

The Caley Picture House can be seen in this vintage 1959 photograph; It's the dark building jutting out, mid-distance on the right, just beyond the bus:
http://flickr.com/photos/allybeag/838615722/

posted by KenRoe on Feb 4, 2008 at 3:27pm

A close up of the Caley from 1993 here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/394157618/

posted by Ian on Feb 5, 2008 at 9:24am

More photos can be found here.

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 6, 2008 at 7:49am

The Caley re-opens this month as a live music venue and club called The Picture House, run by the MAMA Group. The gaudy pink interior scheme and intrusive bars appear to have been removed for this more sympathetic use.

http://www.mamagroup.co.uk/picturehouse/

posted by Gary Painter on Sep 15, 2008 at 2:26am

This is an updated link for the one posted on Feb 6, 2008.

posted by Lost Memory on Nov 5, 2008 at 8:17am

Shortly after opening as a live music venue in September 2008, it was renamed the HMV Picture House, following a new sponsorship deal.

posted by Gary Painter on Jun 17, 2009 at 1:40pm

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