Description

Lennox D Paterson, 1936. 2-storey, 3-bay, symmetrical, horizontally styled L-plan, Art Deco former cinema and integral shops with horizontal overhanging canopy, large first floor windows and taller pilasters to side. Rendered brickwork. Open terrazzo foyer steps flanked by symmetrical shopfronts leading to inner entrance; travertine marble bases with metal framed plate glass windows; frosted and reeded glass panels to clerestory.

INTERIOR: cream terrazzo floor to hall with coloured geometric detailing, central steps to upper stalls foyer with Deco style chrome handrails. Upper foyer with large hexagonal light fitting. Main auditorium with wide framed proscenium arch, horizontal lighting troughs to sides with curved ends. 2 large Deco ceiling light fittings with integral chevron detailed ventilator grilles. Back lit Deco clock. Velvet folding cinema seats with fan detailed cast-iron ends to upper circle. 2 original Peerless Magnarc film projectors to the projection room.

Vertical pattern margined metal-framed glazing to upper floor windows.

Statement of Interest

The Former Regal Cinema is a good example of a provincial Art Deco cinema with a characterful horizontal geometric façade and some fine period detailing surviving to the interior. Once common in Scotland's towns these are becoming increasingly rare. The entrance elevation makes a strong contribution to the streetscape and its pair of integrated shopfronts flanking the main entrance, unusually, survive predominantly in their original condition. It is prominently sited and forms an important part of the streetscape.

Lennox D Paterson (1902-1987) studied at the Glasgow School of Architecture before joining his father's Hamilton-based practice which he subsequently took over and ran until its closure in 1979. Paterson's work was mostly in Lanarkshire and was varied including shops, tenements, public housing and also another two cinemas in Clydebank and Shotts.

This 1,316 seater cinema was built for a syndicate of local businesses including Sir Alexander B King who was involved with many cinemas over Scotland. Built on the site of a former office building, the cinema has a narrow frontage and extends to the rear with the main auditorium space forming an L-plan to the rear.

The cinema was officially opened in August 1936 by Alec Douglas-Home who was later to be British Prime Minister from 1963-64.

Assessed as part of the Cinema Thematic Study 2007-08.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77780787

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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