Basic Biographical Details

Name: William James Anderson II
Designation:  
Born: 31 January 1883
Died: 18 January 1950
Bio Notes: William James Anderson II was born at 15 Lumsden Street, Glasgow on 31 January 1883, the son of James Hector Anderson, cabinetmaker, and his wife Jessie Ross who came from Boharm, Moray. He studied at Glasgow School of Art, 1904-1908. He was in partnership with James McKissack as John McKissack & Son in McKissack's last few years of practice in the late 1930s. Like McKissack he was a cinema specialist. He was a very capable designer, initially in a Burnet/Tait-inspired Art Deco classical and finally in a refined Dutch modernist idiom, again influenced by developments in the practice of Burnet Tait & Lorne. He was described by George Singleton, proprietor of the Cosmo Cinema in Glasgow, as 'a quiet unassuming man who was not in the least commercial'. He died of coronary thrombosis at 3 Havelock Street on 18 January 1950, leaving moveable estate of £1,947 13 7d.

NB It has been stated in some sources that he was the son of William James Anderson who died in 1900. This is an error.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 468, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1930  
Item 2 of 465, Renfield Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessLate 1930s Address of McKissack & Son
Item 3 of 43, Havelock Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19441950 
Item 4 of 456, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1948 Address of McKissack & Son. Builder 2 January 1948 p24

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1John McKissack & Sonc. 1924 Partner 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 141925Vogue CinemaRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandProbably in the partnership
Item 2 of 141930Cinema for Renfrew Pictures LtdRenfrew RenfrewshireScotlandRebuilding
Item 3 of 141933Mecca CinemaPossil GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 141935Cranston's Picture House and Tea Rooms, Renfield Street  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction, including alterations to rake of floor
Item 5 of 141935Embassy Cinema  GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 141936Kyle CinemaIrvine RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 7 of 141936Vogue CinemaGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 141937Aldwych CinemaCardonald GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 141938Boulevard CinemaKnightswood GlasgowScotlandReconstruction as Vogue Cinema
Item 10 of 141938CinemaRenfrew RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 11 of 141938Cosmo cinema  GlasgowScotland 
Item 12 of 141939Riddrie Picture House  GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 141945William Rowan and Sons Limited Premises  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and Additions
Item 14 of 141948Hamilton Premises, Cathcart Road  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions as sole remaining partner

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 
Item 2 of 4McKean, Charles1987The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press 
Item 3 of 4RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Birth & death information from Iain Paterson