Forum Picture House

In Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Forum Ltd. was formed on 11th June 1920 “to carry on the business of public entertainers, showmen, music hall and picture house proprietors”. The Managing Director was John Cummings, with the other directors being Messrs. P. Barton and G. Gow (of Edinburgh) and J. Kennedy (of Kilmarnock).

The Forum Picture House duly opened in 1920, with around 700 seats. H. M. Richards on was the house manager in 1921-22.

By 1925 the Forum Picture House was being leased by A. Claymore, with shows once nightly and two changes of programme each week. By 1928 Mr Claymore had become the proprietor.

When the talkies arrived, British Acoustic(BA) sound system was installed.

On 15th May 1952 it was reported that the Forum Picture House, “recently re-opened”, had been extensively re-decorated and re-equipped by Modernisation Ltd. The works included a complete modernisation of the interior, including a new proscenium in curved fibrous plaster, floats in the middle ceiling carrying modern lighting fitments and new curtains. The entrance foyer had also been re-decorated and fitted with a new pay-box, flooring and improved lighting.

Curiously, these works do not appear to have led to a change in the seating capacity, with 650 being quoted both before and afterwards in the Kinematograph Year Books, although the proscenium was ‘only’ extended by 3ft: from 27ft to 30ft. 3D capability was installed during these works. “CinemaScope” was not listed in the Kine Year Books, but presumably this extension of the proscenium was intended to at the least mimic that.

Unfortunately, all this appears to have been in vain, as the Forum Picture House seems to have closed around 1955-56. Certainly, its final listing in the Kine Year Books was in 1958 (from information provided in 1957).

Assuming it was not demolished immediately, it is not known what uses the building was put to after its life as a picture house had ended. However, it was eventually demolished and a Kwik Save supermarket opened on the site. That has since been replaced by an Aldi store.

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