Glasgow reaches for the stars once more

Glasgow was known as cinema city in the 1930s because, with over 100 picture houses, it had more per head of population than anywhere else in Europe. Now, with the revival of movie-going and the arrival of multi-screen cinemas, it could regain its reputation as a mecca for movie-goers.

Scotland currently has more cinemas than at any time since the 1950s. However, today they are more likely to be located in a single multiplex rather than in separate buildings.

Now Glasgow could see new screen wars as leisure developers race with each other to build multiplexes. First out of the blocks is E&J Glasgow - otherwise known as David Edwards and Barrie Jones. Take a stroll along Renfrew Street and you are likely to get a crick in your neck as you gaze up and up at what is set to be Europe's tallest cinema. At nearly 200ft the UGC is a colossus which strides the entire block between West Nile Street and Renfield Street. Construction by Kier Scotland will be completed next month - but be patient, because fitting out the building and installing 18 screens and 4400 seats will take until early next year.

Wasn't this billed as a Virgin megaplex? Correct - you can see a giant V-shape adorning the north side of the building on Renfrew Street. Virgin's interest in the site, formerly occupied by the Apollo, a celebrated rock venue, dated from its acquisition of MGM cinemas in 1995. But in turn UGC bought out Virgin Cinemas a year ago.

The new structure, whose shell and core alone cost #12 million, reflects a trend away from out-of-town cinema complexes to city leisure centres, or "citiplexes", which offer bars, restaurants, children's play areas and shops selling movie merchandise.

The new UGC will contain 35,000 square feet of catering accommodation on the ground and basement levels. It will also have 12 lifts and 22 escalators to whisk cinema-goers from the bottom to the top of the building in only seven minutes.

The scale of the construction is breathtaking. More than 160 huge holes were driven into the ground for concrete piles, 2500 cubic metres of concrete were poured for the basement and 3200 tons of steelwork were erected using 50,000 bolts.

Many will remember the old Apollo, which stood on the site of the new multiplex. It was a legendary rock venue which played host to stars including The Who, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, The Rolling Stones and Ian Dury. When tickets for the big concerts went on sale at the box office, the queue would snake around the entire building.

The Apollo Centre also contained a huge disco and kept a smaller cinema. It eventually closed in 1985, and a fire two years later ensured its demolition.

Before 1971 the building had been known as Green's Playhouse. The Greens were a former showground family with grand ideas, and the Playhouse was built between 1925 and 1927. With 4500 seats, it represented the acme of movie-going, with double seats for courting couples, uniformed doormen and waitresses in two restaurants dressed as Dresden shepherdesses. On stage was a troupe of dancers - the Playhouse Girls - and there was even a miniature golf course for a time.

But the Playhouse never fulfilled its potential as a film mecca because, like other independent cinema operators, the Greens were starved of films by the big exhibitors. Instead it became a celebrated venue for big band music and dancing. In 1940 Fred Green booked Joe Loss and his orchestra for three weeks - a masterstroke which led to repeat engagements at Hogmanay for 11 years. Another big name bandleader to grace the Playhouse during the dancing years was George Chisholm.

The new building may dwarf its predecessor in terms of size, but it seems that history is repeating itself and a new generation of Glaswegians will find entertainment, pleasure and thrills on exactly the same location - at the corner of Renfield Street and Renfrew Street - as their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents before them.

Copyright 2000
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