Regal Cinema

In early 1939, local businessman, Tommy Taylor engaged local architect Lawrence Anderson Rolland of architectural firm L.A. Rolland & Partners of Leven, to design a new cinema for him and his business partners. Located on Main Street opposite Lawrence Street, construction commenced on 14th July 1939 and was completed by mid-October 1939. The Regal Cinema was opened on 30th October 1939, following a six-week delay due to the outbreak of World War II.

Upon entering the cinema, patrons ascended a small flight of steps, with a slight asymmetry due to the front-facing position of the entrance and cinema on the sloping part of Main Street. Inside, in the Terrazzo floored foyer a central ticket booth greeted them, flanked by double doors leading to the stalls on either side. To the right were stairs leading to the balcony, and a chocolate kiosk on one side. The stalls had a seating layout in three sections with two carpeted passageways. The colour scheme featured shades of orange and pink, illuminated by a concealed Holophane lighting system. The stalls accommodated 550-seats, priced at sixpence, and 110 cheaper seats (located at the front) priced at fourpence. Upstairs the balcony foyer had a small lounge area where people could wait for the next show when cinemas did continuous programmes. The balcony offered similar pricing structure, with 75 one shilling seats at the front and 190 nine-pence seats at the back. the last two rows of seating in both the stall and balcony were double seats, affectionally named ‘chummy seats’, often occupied by courting couples, resulting in less film watching.

The sound and projection equipment were supplied by R.C.A. Photophone and with three changes of programme each week, Kelty had a modern up-to-date cinema to rival any town of a much larger size.

Tommy Taylor operated the cinema until the mid-1960’s when he retired and it was taken over by the Lochgelly-based Commercial Cinema Co. With the advent of TV in the area, efforts to boost business was by introducing bingo sessions from late-1964. Films continued to be screened on non-bingo nights, and continued well into the 1970’s. Saturday morning children’s matinee’s were also popular.

The Regal Cinema eventually screened its final film and became a full-time bingo club, becoming a Mecca Bingo Club which operated until 1990. The vacant building was purchased by Fife Council in 1993 and was demolished in May/June 1993 to make way for a new Council Office.

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