Edinburgh History - Recollections - Entertainment

Links to Other Pages

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Eric Gold

East London

Thank you to Eric Gold, East London, formerly of Dumbiedykes, Edinburgh, for his memories of Edinburgh Cinemas. Eric also referred to Gordon Barr's web site with photos of many of Edinburgh's cinemas and theatres.

Eric wrote:

La Scala

"The old La Scala in Nicolson Street was my haunt where we all used to go. We nicknamed it 'The Scabbie Lala' due to the fleas.

A man used to come around with a spray and I thought it was to make the joint smell nice but my mum told me it was to kill the fleas (ha ha ha)."

County and New Palace

"We never got that first class treatment at the County Craigmillar or the New Palace cinema in the High street opposite John Knox's house.

Regent

"The Regent cinema at Abbey Hill next to Stewarts's Dance Hall was the coldest cinema in Edinburgh.

I will never forget that draught and wind, also Mr Farmer, the Cinema Manager, used to say to people who complained about the cold and wind: 'What do you expect for a shilling a night? - the Caledonian Hotel?' (ha ha ha).

He was a funny man and I got on with him well."

Eric Gold, East End, London, April 2006 + January 5, 2007

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Brian Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland, for his many memories of Edinburgh Cinemas. Bryan also referred to Gordon Barr's web site with photos of old Edinburgh cinemas and theatres.

Bryan wrote:

La Scala and The Rio

"It was interesting to hear, Eric Gold talking about the many hours he spent in the La Scala cinema in Nicolson Street.

My childhood recollections are littered with memories of going to the pictures all over Edinburgh, not very often to the La Scala I must say, nor did we risk the Rio (County) at Craigmillar."

New Vic

"My ‘home turf’ picture house was the New Vic (Victoria) in South Clerk Street, which became the Odeon, now closed for sale and redevelopment.

At the New Vic, hundreds of us went to the GB Club (Gaumont British) every Saturday morning for a diet of Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rodgers, Gene Autry, Abbot and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges, Superman, Bugs Bunny, Sylvester the Cat, Foghorn Leghorn, and naff serials that went on for weeks.

This feast of entertainment was kicked off by a singalong – with an organist and words on the screen – beltin’ oot Guy Mitchell’s or Doris Day’s latest hit at the top of our voices.

Guy Mitchell’s ‘She Wears Red Feathers and a Hula Hula Skirt’, ‘Truly Truly Fair’ and ‘Little Black-Eyed Suzie’ come to mind. It was sixpence for the stalls and nine pence for the balcony. If you delayed your arrival until the stalls were full up, you were allowed upstairs for sixpence anyway.

After the Show

"At the end of each session, the police and staff were outside at the ready, to stop hordes of us hurtling out like lemmings in front of a tram or bus, completely oblivious to everything around us – in full cowboy and indian mode, as we galloped along Rankeillor Street and up St Leonards Lane to continue the chase in the Kings Park."

The New Vic was also where I queued for hours to see Davie Crocket (King of the wild frontier), Geordie and Norman Wisdom’s latest films. At the end of the film, there was a mad rush for the doors, so we didn’t have to wait and stand respectfully to attention, while they played the national anthem.

Then, it was a short journey along South Clerk Street to the chip shop at the top of Gifford Park, for an extra big, 4d (four-penny) poke of chips drowned in chip-shop brown sauce. Chip shops didn’t do vinegar in these days."

St Andrews

"The first cinema I went to, at the age of about three, was the St Andrews Cinema in Clyde Street. It was destroyed by fire in 1952, and has been replaced more than once by a bus station.

My aunt took me there to see a film about Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox and, the now politically incorrect, Song of the South with uncle Remus singing Zip a dee doo dah, zip a dee ay.

It was at the St Andrews, a few years later, that I developed my life-long love of Westerns, when I saw the best film ever made for the first of countless times – ‘She Wore a Yellow Ribbon’, with John Wayne and the great Victor McClaglen."

Poole's Synod Hall

"Some years later, in the late-50s, the Poole’s Synod Hall, in Castle Street, became very popular for us young blades.

We would sneak in to watch the nudist films, taking care that our raincoats fully covered up our blazers and school ties.

Looking back, watching naked people chatting happily in posh voices, and playing tennis delightfully, with camera shots carefully avoiding the lower regions, wasn’t really much of a turn-on.

The Poole’s Synod Hall was demolished in 1966, and left as a hole in ground for many years."

Eastway

"When I lived in Piershill, my mother and father sometimes took me to the Eastway picture-house at the top of Easter Road.

The thing I remember most about it, was it still had gas lights, which were turned up when the film was finished.

The most memorable film I saw at the Eastway was James Stewart in Harvey – the 6-foot high white rabbit only he could see.

The highlight, after a visit to the Eastway, was going to Bauld’s fish and chip shop in Montrose Terrace, Abbeyhill, for a plate of chips, bread and butter, and a glass of Hendry’s Red Cola."

Other Edinburgh Cinemas

"There was no limit to how far my friends and I would travel to see a good picture if it rained during the school holidays.

We’d scour the Evening News, or the long-forgotten Evening Dispatch, for something worth seeing – then jump on a bus or tram to far-flung picture houses, such as:

- the Poole’s Roxy in Gorgie,
- the Salon next to the Playhouse,
- the George Portobello,
- the Hayweights Musselburgh,
- the Savoy (Tudor) Stockbridge,
- the Ritz in Rodney Street,
- the Regent Abbeymount,
- the Regal Lothian Road,
- the Gaumont Canning Street,
- the Caley Lothian Road,
- the Carlton Piershill
and so on . . ."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: April 9, 2006

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Ronnie McBride

Cape Town, South Africa

Thank you to Ronnie McBride, now living in Cape Town, South Africa, for his memories of 'The County' cinema at Craigmillar, known locally as 'The Gaff'

Ronnie wrote:

The County

"I remember some time, probably in the mid 1950’s, a cinemascope version of the evening’s film was delivered by mistake. Naturally the Gaff didn’t have cinemascope but that didn’t stop the show.

They were not about to cancel and give everyone their money back, so they just went ahead and showed the film using the ordinary projector.

All the characters on screen appeared to be eleven feet tall and skinny as giraffes. We still sat through it, but it was a very noisy evening."

Ronnie McBride, Cape Town, South Africa: December 2, 2006

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson for his memories of the New Vic and Buckie Wives.

The New Vic

Bob wrote:

Theatre Organ

"Brian Gourlay mentioned the Saturday mornings at the New Vic, and the 'Sing Along' to the theatre organ. This was played by Alistair Allen*, a very accomplished organist. * I'm not sure of the spelling of 'Allen'.

The Wurlitzer Organ used to rise out of the floor as he played the into. It was a memorable visual and audio experience.

I believe the organ was removed and rebuilt by enthusiasts. I'll have to do a search in the News and Scotsman."

UPDATE

Bob e-mailed me again, a few hours later, to let me know that he had been told:

"Although the organ is not installed anywhere, it is on the care of the good people of the Scottish Cinema Organ Trust. The trust also owns the organ from the closed Glasgow Odeon, which is similarly homeless."

Gary Painter, Scottish Cinema Organ Trust

Poke of Buckies

"It was the mid- to late-1940s when I went to the New Vic, so there was very little in the way of sweets or ice cream. The favourite was a poke of buckies which were eaten with a pin.

They used to try and make sure that we did not get into the picture house with these. If we did, the shells usually ended up on the floor and, of course, were stood on as we left.

Those poor usherettes must have had a job to clean them up and get rid of the smell."

Buckie Wives

Bob continued:

"The 'Buckie Wives', I remember, always set up near a cinema at 'going in time' and, if possible, near a pub."

The New Palace

"There was always one just round the corner from The New Palace in the High Street, just round the corner at the top of St Mary Street, handy for the World's End and the Royal Archer."

La Scala

Another used to set up in Richmond Street, just round the corner from La Scala and outside a pub whose name is lost in the mists of time.

Thank you to Eric Gold who replied:

Buckie Wives

"The pub in Richmond Street was called The Richmond Bar, now The Southsider - well it was in 1997.

I know about the Richmond Bar because my uncle worked there when we lived in Arthur Street. We would go there guising at Halloween time."

Eric Gold: East London: January 28, 2008

I checked the address of the Richmond Bar. It was 3 West Richmond Street. The bar is still at that address, and is still named: 'The Southsider'.

However, please see Bob Henderson's comments below.

Peter Stubbs: January 28, 2008

Bob Henderson explained

Buckie Wives

"I know the Southsider well. But the pub that the Buckie Wife sat outside was on the other side of the street.

I can still see in my mind's eye the dark green painted front with heavy moulding along the top of it, just about where the entrance to the sheltered accommodation is now, but I cannot remember the name.

When I have time I will try the street directories in the library. I also have a vague memory of it being a good second-hand book shop after it closed as a pub."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 28, 2008

Brian Gourlay wrote

Buckie Wives

"Unlike Bob Henderson, I never succumbed to the legendary buckies. I tried them once from the stall in West Richmond Street, and can’t possibly describe how awful they were or what they looked like.

The other buckie barrow that I remember was still there in the 1980s, I think – about 20 yards down on the right-hand side of Infirmary Street, just outside James Thin’s bookshop’s side window."

Brian Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: January 28, 2008

Thank you to Eric Gold who replied again:

The Southsider

"It was definitely outside the Richmond Bar that I remember seeing the the fishwives standing.

Edinburgh is changing. The bar is now called the Southsider in Richmond Street. Let's hope they don't change that to the Pink Lagoon (ha ha ha)."

Eric Gold: East London: August 11, 2008

Eric followed up with another email, saying:

Opposite the Southsider

"I've just come off the phone to my auntie Marion about the fishwives outside the bars in Edinburgh. My aunt said there was a pub, before my time as wee bairn, dead opposite the Richmond Pub, now the Southsider. She has forgotten the name of it.

She knows of this pub because she worked in the Snowfreeze selling ice cream and candy flosses in the shop in Clerk Street, or was it Nicholson Street?"

Eric Gold: East London: August 11, 2008

Thank you to Graham Carlin who wrote:

The Wee Anderson

"I think the pub that Bob Henderson was talking about (B above) in Richmond Street was called 'The Wee Anderson'.

That's the name of the pub I remember form the 1970s. It was a William Usher brewery pub."

Graham Carlin, Edinburgh: August 11, 2008

Thank you to Dick Martin who wrote:

The Wee Anderson

"Thanks to Graham Carlin (F above) for his identification of 'The Wee Anderson' pub in Richmond St. It's funny, once a name is mentioned how one's memory suddenly is refreshed.

Usher Brewery was, of course, taken over my the Vaux Group."

Richard Martin, Borders, Scotland: August 12, 2008

Thank you to Tom Harrison who wrote:

The Wee Anderson

"Yes, I do remember the fishwife on West Richmond Street. She sat outside the butcher's shop, opposite St David's Street, and close-by was the pub that Bob was trying to remember.

My dad used to have a pint there. It was called We Anderson's, and across the street was the West Richmond Bar.

Did you know the Buckie Women had to sit close by the siver or storm drain to service their needs during the day? They were much loved by the community."

Tom Harrison, Buckstone, Edinburgh: August 14, 2008.

Thank you to Tom Harrison who wrote:

The Wee Anderson

"Yes, I do remember the fishwife on West Richmond Street. She sat outside the butcher's shop, opposite St David's Street, and close-by was the pub that Bob was trying to remember.

My dad used to have a pint there. It was called Wee Anderson's, and across the street was the West Richmond Bar.

Did you know the Buckie Women had to sit close by the siver or storm drain to service their needs during the day? They were much loved by the community."

Tom Harrison, Buckstone, Edinburgh: August 14, 2008.

Eric Gold wondered when the 'Wee Anderson' bar closed. Graham Carlin supplied he answer. In an email to Eric, Graham wrote:

The Wee Anderson

"I'm not sure of the date the pub closed but I would guess it was late 1970s. I was in it once or twice around 1976ish, but being young my friends and I preferred pubs like Nicky Tam's.

The Wee Anderson was just a wee old blokes' boozer and it was Ushers. We preferred S & N beer."

Graham Carlin, Edinburgh: August 14, 2008

George Stewart also provided 'The Wee Anderson' answer. George wrote:

The Wee Anderson

"I think the pub that Bob is talking about might be the WEE ANDERSON. At that particular time, I worked for LAWS, the newsagent, which was just about straight across the road from it, and i delivered there as well as to Stewart's Bar.

George Stewart, South Edinburgh: August 25, 2008

The New Vic

The other one I remember in the South Side was on the pavement opposite the New Vic, handy for a couple of nearby pubs.

Seafood

The tastes and textures of these treats, buckies and very occasionally mussels, have remained with me until now, and seafood of any kind is usually my choice when we eat out.

I have, however, never had anything as delicious as a sixpenny saucer of mussels served in the seawater they wee boiled in.

My mum could not afford too many sixpenceworhts in those days, so it was usually a penny poke of buckies, a delicious treat, nevertheless."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: January 18, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

John Clark

Canada

Thank you to John Clark who wrote:

Tarzan at the Tiv

"Is there possibly anyone on earth who loves my beloved Edinburgh as much as I do? I have been reading the latest additions Peter, about going to the local cinemas. What a flood of memories they cause.

I was a Dundee St / Watson Crescent guy, and my regular everyday haunts were the Harrie Park and the North Merchiston Boys' Club.

We would line up for hours to see Johnny Weismuller in Tarzan at the Tiv."

La Scala and New Vic

"The La Scala and the New Vic were in my later years, when I was courting. The New Vic was great for musicals which we loved."

John Clark, Canada: January 28, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Andy Sinclair

British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Andy Sinclair who wrote:

Monseigneur and Alhambra

"On checking out the different stories of Edinburgh cinemas, I've seen no mention of the Monseigneur on Princes Street or the Alhambra in Leith Walk.

My father always went to the Monseigneur as it only gave news, as far as I remember.

In the Alhambra, we played guessing games on the adverts on the fire screen, before the show started.

Is my memory faulty, or do others remembers ,anything of this"

Andy Sinclair, British Columbia, Canada: March 9, 2008

Reply

Andy:

Here is a link to another page on the web site. It includes some of George Field's memories of The Monseigneur and other Edinburgh cinemas. George was a projectionist in Edinburgh between 1962 and 1976. He is now living in Melbourne, Australia

Projectionist

- Peter Stubbs: March 27, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Phil Wilson

Aberdeen, Scotland

Thank you to Phil Wilson who wrote:

Monseigneur (later the Jacey)

"I read Andy Sinclair's note this morning about the Monseigneur (later the 'Jacey') on Princes Street. I think it was a 'newsreel only' cinema during the week, but on Saturday mornings I have a vague memory of there being a children's matinee.

I have an even vaguer memory of having gone to one or two at some stage in the late 50s or very early 60s. I can, unfortunately, no longer remember what the matinees consisted of.

I'm guessing that many other cinemas would also cater for youngsters on a Saturday morning, but don't know for sure."

Phil Wilson, Aberdeen: March 26, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Tony Ivanov

Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Tony Ivanov who wrote:

Monseigneur (formerly the Princes)

"As a child in the fifties my father used to regularly take me there along with my brother to the Monseigneur Cinema in Princes Street as it showed a lot of cartoon movies. I recall it being very enjoyable.

This cinema was originally called The Princes Cinema when it began in 1912. it was bought by the Lucas family, who owned other cinemas, in the 1920's and at some later date the name was changed to 'Monseigneur News Theatre'.

In 1964 it was bought by Jacey Cinemas and renamed the Jacey. It later on just showed 'Continental films' and finally closed in 1973 with it having been the only cinema left in Princes Street."

Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland: March 26, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

Brian Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who added:

Monseigneur

"Andy Sinclair’s memory is not at fault about the Monseigneur Cinema in Princes Street. I was in there a few times in my teens and I’m sure it only showed news and maybe documentary type features.

It was quite a small picture house and if my memory serves me right. It was between Castle Street and South Charlotte Street, and is now a GAP clothing store."

History of The Monseigneur

"The Scottish Cinemas website gives the following description:

- Opened as Princes Cinema, 1912, seating 500,

- Also had Tea Room and Smoking Room.

- Re-modeled as Monseigneur News Theatre 1935.

- Reconstructed as Jacey 1964.

- Closed 1973. E

- The entrance was where Gap's large glass window is now"

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland: March 26, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

10.

George T Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who added:

Edinburgh Cinemas

"The recent 'recollections' about the various Edinburgh cinemas brought back a few memories to me.

One mention of the 35 cinemas reminded me of my early teenage self counting all the advertisements for cinemas on the front page of the Edinburgh Evening News. I think I once counted 42, but that did include Portobello and Musselburgh and no doubt some other outlying town/suburb."

The Blue Halls

"There is a web site devoted to Edinburgh cinemas which I looked at some time ago.

I'm hoping to find out something about 'The Blue Halls' which was in Lady Lawson Street, I think."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada: March 28, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

11.

Tony Ivanov

Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Tony Ivanov who wrote:

The Blue Halls

"The Blue Halls was in Lauriston Street. This cinema, built on the site of the old cattle market, was opened on New Year's Day 1930. It eventually closed in April 1954 and re-opened again later the same month re-named The Beverley.

As a child we used to refer to it as the Flea Pit. The Beverley finally closed in November 1959. The building was then taken over by a public house called The Lord Darnley which I'm not sure still exists"

Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland: March 29, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

12.

Phil Wilson

Aberdeen, Scotland

Thank you to Phil Wilson who added:

Monseigneur (later the Jacey)

"There are two small pictures of the Monseigneur, and later the Jacey, dating from 1963 and 1965 respectively in the book previously mentioned 'Edinburgh since 1900' by Archive Publications (no page numbers, but they are Plates 118 and 119).

The Monseigneur actually had the sign above its entrance: 'Monseigneur News Cafe' .

The sign for the Jacey showed 'Jacey News Theatre'."

Phil Wilson, Aberdeen: March 29, 2008

Recollections of Edinburgh Cinemas

13.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Thank you to Frank Ferri, now living in Newhaven, Edinburgh, for sending me these memories of cinemas in Edinburgh and Leith

Frank wrote:

Cinemas and Snooker

"Leith had six cinemas at one time.

- The State (De Rolos) cinema and snooker halls. It changed to a bingo hall then to a nightclub.

- The Gaiety in the old Kirkgate. It alternated between a theatre and a cinema.

- The Laurie in Laurie St, which was behind Woolworth. At one time it was known as the Salamander.

- The Palace cinema and and snooker halls, at the corner of Duke St. and Constitution St.

- The Capitol in Gordon St. It's now a bingo hall.

- The Alhambra cinema and snooker halls, at the corner of Springfield St. and Leith Walk, now Budget car exhausts and tyres."

There were another two snooker halls, one on the corner of the Shore and Henderson St., now the Raj Indian restaurant and the other in the Kirkgate Arcade almost opposite the Gaiety."

State Cinema

"I remember the old State Cinema in Great Junction Street, built circa 1935 and still standing. It showed programs consisting of:

- the main feature film

- a 'B' movie

- a cartoon and

- newsreels.

The programs were changed twice weekly, with a children’s matinee on Saturday mornings.

Up until the late 1950s, it was a grand white-painted, Art Deco building, the outline of which was surrounded by green, red and blue neon lights, a magnificent sight on dark nights.

The foyer was flanked with palm trees. All the staff wore blue uniforms and the manager stood at the door, dressed in Tuxedo.

The Doorman stood outside the theatre, resplendently dressed in what looked like a royal blue Admiral's uniform, decorated with gold braid."

Inside the Cinema

"Usherettes showed you to your seat in the dark guided you using their torches.

Cheap perfumed air freshener was sprayed by staff, up and down the aisles, to mask the smell of tobacco smoke and other odours.

The stage's silver curtains would reflect the different hues of colours from the stage lights. Fashionable blue and gold trim 1930s basket-woven chairs and tables decorated the posher balcony foyer areas.

Great movies for us kids included:

- Frankenstein (Boris Karl as Frankenstein’s monster)

- Wolf Man (Bela Lagousi as the vampire).

- The Invisible Man (Lon Channy Jnr.)

- Treasure Island (Wallace Beery)