Regal Cinema

In Anstruther, a small coastal town in Fifeshire, the Regal Cinema was built for S. [Sidney] and C. M. Fuller in 1934 on the site of John Forrester’s sawmill and joinery yard. It was designed and built by Cowieson Ltd., St. Rollox, Glasgow, and was said to be the last word in comfort, beauty of design and colouring. There were two German Bauer projectors and arc lamps, made in Stuttgart.

The proscenium was 29ft wide, the stage measured 32ft by 8ft and there was one dressing room.

The Regal Cinema was formally opened on 19th July 1934 by provost W.W. Carstairs. The opening film was “Footlight Parade”, starring James Cagney.

When CinemaScope arrived stronger arcs were needed, and the existing arcs were replaced with second-hand Kalee lamps from the New Picture House in St. Andrews (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) which had changed to Peerless arcs. The original Bauer projectors were replaced with Ross of London projectors.

At some time the Regal Cinema was acquired by Lindsay Berwick. Part-time bingo was introduced, possibly in the mid-late 1960’s, since, when Mr Berwick closed the Regal Cinema to films, on Saturday 22nd September 1973 with “Laurence of Arabia”, starring Peter O'Toole, he remarked that “I shall continue, for a short time, at any rate, with the bingo sessions.”

He also said that “[The Regal Cinema] is just not viable [with films]. We have lost money over the last two years”.

The bingo sessions did not, unfortunately, last much longer, as the building was demolished in 1978. At that time, Mr Berwick, who had attended the opening as a child, salvaged one of the original Bauer projectors and donated it to a museum in Stuttgart.

Housing now occupies the site.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.