History of Glasgow Cinema

For most of us, our leisure time is golden. I'm sure I could go as far in saying it is what most of us work for, it's what we look forward to. If not our holidays then a drink at the end of a hard working week, a lunch or dinner date with your partner, family or friends or going to the cinema to see the latest blockbuster!

It wasn't until the late 1880's when Scottish people started to take more leisure time to go out and about more rather than working or staying at home. It's true to say men were more likely to participate in leisure activities such as football or going drinking with their pals etc. It was when theatre and dance halls were introduced when women started to venture out more.

The first purpose built cinema was opened in 1910 in Sauchiehall Street and was named the Electric Theatre. The people of Glasgow soon developed a love for the movies and there was a massive boom in 1930. It was during this period when more cinemas began to open such as the Vogue, Paramount, Regal, Bedford and the Lyceum. As time went on, more and more cinemas began to open in the city and by 1939 Glasgow's cinema had a seating capacity of over 175,000 officially having more cinema seats per head than any other city!