Campbeltown Picture House

The Campbeltown Picture House is a theatre located in Campbeltown, Scotland. Opened in 1913, it was one of the first purpose-built cinemas in Scotland.[1] It is the only remaining example of an Atmospheric theatre in Scotland.[2]

Campbeltown Picture House
General information
Typecinema
Architectural styleGlasgow style (art nouveau)
LocationCampbeltown, Argyll, Scotland
Coordinates55°25′26″N 5°36′11″W
Completed1913
OpenedMay 1913
Renovated2016-2017
OwnerCampbeltown Community Business Ltd
Design and construction
ArchitectAlbert V. Gardner
Renovating team
ArchitectBurrell Foley Fischer LLP
Renovating firmCorramore Construction
Structural engineerDavid Narro Associates
Services engineerIrons Foulner Consulting Engineers Ltd
Website
http://www.campbeltownpicturehouse.co.uk/

History

The Picture House, known locally as The Wee Pictures,[3] was designed by the architect Albert Gardner, a student of architecture at Glasgow School of Art from 1901 to 1905.[4] It opened in May 1913, and aside from a short hiatus in the 1980s, has been used continuously as a cinema since.[5][6][7][3] The building is three storeys high with the projection room on the top floor, the balcony on the middle floor and the entrance on the ground floor. Gardiner was asked to refurbish the cinema in 1935, and did so in the "atmospheric style". This included a blue sky with moving white clouds, and the inclusion of small plasterwork buildings to recall a Mediterranean courtyard. Sound equipment was also installed in the cinema as part of the refurbishment.[3][8]

In August 2017 the Picture House, was voted as one of Scotland's six 'Hidden Gems' as part of Dig It! 2017 campaign.[9]

In November 2017, the National Library of Scotland announced that Campbeltown Community Business Ltd were donating the historical archive relating to the Picture House to the Library's Moving Image Archive.[10] The archive includes newspaper cuttings, architectural drawings, advertisements, financial ledgers, and details of a 1938 plane crash which resulted in the cinema closing the night because the reels for that night's film were on the plane.[10]

Restoration

In 2016, a £2.5 million restoration was undertaken, with work to be completed in 2017.[11] The work was carried out by architects Burrell Foley Fischer and Corramore Construction, with funding from various sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.[12] As a result of the restoration there are now two auditoriums, one of 192 seats, the other with 53 seats. There is a new foyer, café, gallery and education space.[12] The first pictures of the newly-refurbished cinema were released in November 2017.[13]

References
  1. "Restoration of historic cinema to begin". BBC News. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  2. "Historic cinema returned to former glory". BBC News. 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  3. "Campbeltown, 26 Hall Street, The Picture House Cinema". Canmore. Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  4. Goold, David. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (November 28, 2017, 4:50 pm)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  5. "Town's historic cinema set to close". BBC News. 2014-08-18. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  6. The Campbeltown Book. Campbeltown: Kintyre Civic Society. 2003. p. 379. ISBN 0954584503.
  7. Walker, Frank Arneil (2000). Argyll and Bute. Yale University Press. ISBN 0140710795.
  8. "Historic cinema returned to former glory". BBC News. 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  9. "Scotland in Six - Hidden Gems - Dig It! 2017". Dig It! 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  10. "Campbeltown Picture House archive - Media release - National Library of Scotland". www.nls.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  11. "Restoration of historic cinema to begin". BBC News. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  12. "Restoration work at Campbeltown Picture House underway - Scottish Construction Now!". Scottish Construction Now!. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  13. "Historic cinema returned to former glory". BBC News. 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
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