The Toledo Cinema (ex), Muirend, Glasgow

Whilst on my way over to see the relatives, I took the opportunity to blip these flats in Muirend, which was originally a cinema - I have really happy memories of being a kid and going there to see Saturday matinees of the 'The Pink Panther' films. I also remember seeing Jaws there!

The ABC Toledo cinema was opened on 2 October 1933. It was designed by William Beresford Inglis, who also built other cinemas in Glasgow. He also designed the Beresford Hotel, notable for its very cinema-like design, which is now the Beresford Flats.

The design is a rare Scottish example of an Atmospheric Cinema; there were only ever around five cinemas built in this style in Scotland (others include the Campbeltown Picture House and Edinburgh's New Victoria. The Toledo interior was designed to give a feel that the patron was sitting outside in a Spanish courtyard, surrounded on either side by small false buildings and painted landscapes, with a ceiling above painted blue to feel like sky. Even more rarely, the exterior of the building was also in a Spanish style.

Eventually, the time of the cinema came to an end. Glasgow City Council's Development and Regeneration Director, Rodger McConnell, said 'the fabric of the 1933 building has deteriorated so badly it would require a substantial upgrade and repairs.' Indeed, the building was so run-down inside at time of closure, the heating system had been broken for over a month. During that time, the management had hung signs all over the public areas of the building stating that, since they would be closing soon anyway, there were no plans to fix the heating. Fewer people went to the cinema because it meant having to wrap up inside the cold screens.

The cinema eventually closed in 2001 and was mostly knocked down (apart from the facade which was 'B' listed) before flats being built.