Orient Cinema
53-59 Main Street,
Ayr,
KA6
53-59 Main Street,
Ayr,
KA6
1 person
favorited this theater
Opened in 1932 and designed by Albert Gardner. The Orient Cinema had a tower feature in the centre of the facade over the entrance which was in a Moorish style. Inside the auditorium, seating was provided in stalls and circle. There were minature plaster buildings along the side walls, all in a Moorish theme with minorets etc. The ceiling was a dark blue sky. It had a stage 25 feet deep, with three dressing rooms and a 40 feet wide proscenium opening. Another feature was the cafe for the convenience of patrons.
The auditorium underwent a modification in 1954 when Cinemascope was installed. The proscenium area was given an Art Deco style treatment and the Moorish atmospheric buildings and trappings were removed.
It closed as a cinema in 1983 and became a Top Flight Bingo Club and when this closed it became a nightclub but since that closed, the building is now derelict.
Contributed by
Graeme McBain
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Ayr is located on the west coast of Scotland.
A photo of the current exterior, as well as some poor interior shots, here:
View link
We also have a shot which we can’t post on that site which shows a small portion of the original painted section of the atmospheric interior surviving behind the proscenium, thanks to alterations for Cinemascope in the 50s.
The Orient Cinema had a stage 25feet deep, the proscenium was 40feet wide and there were 3 dressing rooms. Another facility for patrons was a cafe.
garypainter : I’m creating a brief for a design competition involving the Orient cinema. Is there any chance you could send me these photos, including the one showing the original painted section of the interior? The link no longer works. It would be really helpful, thanks.
In 1944 the cinema was operated by the Crown Cinema Co. Ltd. of Glasgow, booked by A.B. King in the same city.