The Tivoli Cinema, Crow Road, Partick, Glasgow

Later - Classic Cinema / County Bingo

See also - The Tivoli Theatre, Argyle Street, Glasgow

Glasgow Index

Above - The Tivoli Cinema, Glasgow whilst in Operation as a Classic Cinema from 1967 to 1972 - Reproduced here with a Creative Commons (Attribution) License from the Cinema Treasures Website.

The Tivoli Cinema was situated on Crow Road in Partick, Glasgow and first opened on Monday the 29th of April 1929. The Cinema was designed externally in the Italian Renaissance style and internally in the Art Deco style by the architect William J. Blain of Denny & Blain, Dunbarton.

Although built primarily as a Cinema it was equipped with a small stage, 15 foot deep, for variety performances and had 4 dressing rooms for artists. It was also equipped with a Christie Theatre Organ, a Western Electric Sound installation, and its projection room was situated at the back of the Stalls.

The Kinematograph Weekly reported on the new Cinema in their 2nd of May 1929 edition saying:- 'The Tivoli, in Crow Road, Partick, a residential suburb of Glasgow, which has been built for a local company of which Thomas Ormiston, C.B.E., is chairman, was opened on Monday.

Palm Court Entry

The whole building has been designed to give easy entrance and straight exit to and from all parts and is the result of the combined knowledge of recognised kinema experts, carried out by W. J. Blain, architect. A prominent feature of the main entrance is the spacious forecourt, a one-storey glass glazed structure which will be utilised as a palm court and entrance hall.

The main pay-boxes are situated here, with managerial offices immediately behind, and a few steps lead to the inner vestibule. with staircases on each side leading to the balcony.

On entering the house one is at once struck with the harmoniously blended scheme of decoration, with some fine lighting effects giving wonderful diffusion and distribution blending harmoniously with the decorative scheme.

Above - The Auditorium and Stage of the Tivoli Cinema, Glasgow - From The Bioscope, 28th of August 1929.

Carried out by Messrs. Wm. Douglas and sons. decorators, the whole decorative motif is in shades of brown and yellow, and in conjunction with the lighting effects, it is possible to bathe the house in light and dim down gradually right through to moonlight.

In the proscenium the tab curtain represents the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli. Rome, and all the colour-scheme is in keeping. The area of the Tivoli is 80 ft. by 130 ft., and it accommodates 1,250 on the ground area and 750 in the balcony. The projection room, situated at the back of the stalls, is equipped with Gaumont Eclipse machines, with a "throw" of 100 ft. A special feature of the balcony seating is the alcoves - side seats for two persons.

There is ample accommodation for waiting patrons in the forecourt, inner vestibule, and balcony waiting lounge, which is attractively done in yellow and helio. A parking place for motor-cars has been laid out at the rear, and an emergency exit passage runs through the building from back to front. There is a full stage and artistes' dressing-room accommodation.

The Music

Above - The Christie Theatre Organ Installed at the Tivoli Cinema, Glasgow - From the Bioscope, 18th of June 1930.

A Christie Unit organ has been installed with the organ consol situated on the left of the orchestral leader and, owing to the proportions of the building and the introduction of columns, the acoustics of the house are, in the opinion of the builders, the best they have yet had.

Harry Dorman will conduct the orchestra and officiate at the organ.

Right - An Article and Image on the Christie Organ at the Tivoli Cinema, Glasgow - From The Bioscope, 15th of May 1929.

W. Stewart Brown, who has been circuit manager for the Ormiston houses, is general manager, and, being no stranger to Glasgow, having previous experience as assistant at the Picture House, this part is in good hands.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the Kinematograph Weekly, 2nd of May 1929.

The Tivoli Cinema, had first opened in April 1929 and would be in continuous operation, albeit under several different owners and names right up until 1972.

In the 1930s a new Entrance Hall and larger Foyer had been created in the Cinema, and its owners changed in 1932 to Gaumont British Theatres who would later be taken over by the Rank Organisation.

In 1967 the Cinema was taken over by Classic Cinemas and renamed Classic but they closed the Cinema on the 26th of February 1972 and it was then turned over to Bingo as a County Bingo Club. This ran right up until 1992 but after its closure the former Cinema remained unused until its final demolition in the late 1990s.

This Cinema should not be confused with the Tivoli Theatre, Argyle Street, Glasgow.

Some of the later information for this Theatre was gleaned from the excellent Cinema Treasures Website.

If you have any more information or Images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.