Kelvin Cinema
1073 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8LZ
1073 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8LZ
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated British Cinemas Ltd.
Architects: Albert V. Gardner, William Riddell Glen
Styles: Atmospheric, Moorish, Spanish Moorish
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The Kelvin Cinema was located Finnieston in the West End of the city. The architects were Albert V. Gardner and William R. Glen (their last project working together) and it opened on 12th May 1930. Externally it was remarkable for having an octagonal stair tower on the left side of the entrance. The auditorium was clad, walls and ceiling, in asbestos panels! The ceiling having muraled paintings representing tented canvas awnings to give shelter from the ‘sun’. The Atmospheric style was completed with a Turkish mosque and other buildings on the left hand side of the proscenium and a Spanish village on the right hand side. It closed as a cinema in 1959.
It was then used as a boxing arena, followed in March 1973 as a bingo club. From 1981 it became a nightclub which closed in 1986. The building became derelict until 1992 when it was re-modelled as the ‘Creme de la Creme’, reputed to be the worlds largest Indian restaurant. The restaurant closed in March 2005 and the building was demolished.
Contributed by
Graeme McBain, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Further information, including an extensive gallery of interior shots taken during demolition, can be found here:
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A photograph of the original atmospheric interior can also be found here:
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