Public Hall Cinema

In Thornton, Fife, to the south of Glenrothes, the earliest plans for the Public Hall held by the University of St. Andrews date from June and July 1914. An “operating room” is mentioned, so, as well as being built as a public hall, it appears that use as a cinema was considered from the beginning.

There is no entry in the 1914 Kinematograph Year Book, and the first mention I have of the Public Hall Cinema is the 1953 edition. However, the 1927, 1931 and 1940 editions did list a “Cinema” in Thornton. No address was provided, and the only information that ties in with the 1953 entry is the seating capacity: 400 in 1940 as opposed to 334 in 1953. (In 1927 Gilbert’s Films was the operator and in 1931 and 1940 the owner of the Cinema was Dempsey Brothers; in 1953 the owner of the Public Hall Cinema was Clayton Brothers.)

As I am not aware of two cinemas operating in this small town (population 2,408 in 1931 and 1940, reducing slightly to 2,247 by 1953) I have assumed that all this relates to the same building. (Hopefully another contributor will be able to clarify this.)

It is not known when the Public Hall Cinema closed.

Since closure the building has been in use as a community hall, now run by a Management Committee.

There are two halls. The larger (presumably the former cinema) can accommodate 250 seated, while the small hall seats 100. There are also two committee rooms, with room for 40 seats in each.

Interestingly, Thornton Amateur Dramatic Association has recently (2015) been formed, and intends to use the hall as its rehearsal room in early 2016 for their first show, “Jekyll and Hyde - The Musical”. It is not clear whether the show will be performed in this hall.

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