Toledo cinema

While I was over west visiting mum, I took a detour to Muirend (suburb in the south of Glasgow) to blip the Toledo flats, which were previously the Toledo cinema.

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/American" style.

Originally seating 1,598 people in a single auditorium, the cinema was subdivided into three auditoria in 1982, when the interior of the building was refurbished. The new Cinema Screen 1 consisted of the original circle area, with a brand new screen, which now sat an extra 482. Cinema Screen 2 had 208 seats in the old front stalls and used the original proscenium opening. Cinema Screen 3 had 90 seats in the old rear stalls.

The cinema was finally closed in 2001, with the front facade being saved as an integral part of the new flats.

Enjoy Saturday, all