Regal Cinema

In Brechin, Angus, the City Road United Presbyterian church was built in 1859. It was a substantial building of stone and slate.

In 1914 the minister, William Loudon, moved to a church in Greenock, and the congregation decided to merge with a sister church in Bank Street.

In 1915, The Brechin Picture and Variety Company was formed for the purpose of acquiring the former church, with local people as directors: W. Black, Mr Davidson (from Montrose) and Captain McNab of the 5th Black Watch.

The Olympia Theatre was duly opened by Lord Provost Henderson on Monday 8th November 1915. There were 563 seats, including 120 in the balcony. The stalls floor had been altered so the seats were raked, providing a better view of the screen. There was a 35ft by 23ft stage. The architect for the alterations was D. Wishart, from Galloway.

A live show, the Futami Troup, was the opening attraction, supported by a number of items on the Cinematograph.

In October 1928 the Olympia Theatre was acquired by the Regent Photo Playhouse Company Ltd. Then, on 2nd October 1931, it was sold to John D. McEwan. He re-opened it as the Regal Cinema on Monday 14th December 1931 with “Song of My Heart”, starring John MacCormack, and Slim Summerville in “We, We, Marie”. A British Acoustic(BA) sound system had been installed.

Shortly afterwards, the cinema was acquired by D. Milne. In 1935, he sold it to Strathmore Pictures Ltd, who owned it until closure.

In 1955 CinemaScope was installed. The screen was 29ft by 13ft, set in a 30ft wide proscenium. This reduced the seating capacity to 531. The first CinemaScope presentation, from Monday 26th September 1955, was “Brigadoon”, starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse.

The Regal Cinema closed on Sunday 27th January 1963 with “The Two Headed Spy”, starring Jack Hawkins and Gia Scala, and Gary Merill and Nancy Davis in “Crash Landing”.

The building was demolished in the early-1970’s. Housing now occupies the site.

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