Basic Site Details

Name: Cosmo cinema
City or county: Glasgow
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Messrs Singleton Cinemas Limited have acquired a site at the corner of Rose-street and Renfrew-street for the erection of a repertory cinema to seat about 800 people. The architect is Mr J(ames) McKissack, 68 West Regent-street Glasgow. [Builder 8 April 1938 Page 725]

Plans are being prepared for the Robert V Singleton Syndicate, Limited. Kilpatrick-street, London-road Bridgeton, Glasgow by Messrs John McKissack and Son 65 Renfield Street Glasgow for a cinema to be erected at the corner of Rose-street and Renfrew-road. [Builder 22 April 1938 Page 801]

The Scottish Repertory Cinemas Limited 105 St Vincent Street Glasgow have decided to erect a repertory cinema seating 800 persons in Rose-street and Renfrewshire-street(sic) to be called the “Cosmo.” The contract has been placed with Messrs A Mitchell and Sons Limited, 20 Muirend Avenue, Glasgow. [Builder 11 November 1938 Page 944]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Glasgow Film TheatreYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Cinema  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2Renfrew StreetYes 
Item 2 of 2Glasgow Film Theatre/12, Rose StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 519381939  
Item 2 of 518 May 1939  Cinema opened
Item 3 of 51967  Interior remodelled
Item 4 of 51980s Alterations and additions(?) 
Item 5 of 51990 * AdditionConstruction of GFT Cinema 2, with MDW as main contractor

* earliest date known from documented sources.

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 9James McKissack A19381939 
Item 2 of 9John McKissack & Son A19381939 
Item 3 of 9William James Anderson II A19381939 
Item 4 of 9Godfrey Dodgson Lodge B1967 Interior remodelled.
Item 5 of 9John Robertson Notman B1967 Interior remodelled.
Item 6 of 9Notman & Lodge B1967 Interior remodelled
Item 7 of 9Honeyman, Jack & Robertson  1973 Rebuilding scheme following Scottish Film Council's take-over of Cosmo, renamed as Glasgow Film Theatre
Item 8 of 9Alexander Buchanan Campbell & Partners A1980s Further alterations?
Item 9 of 9Alexander Buchanan Campbell V1980s Further alterations?

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 2Singleton, George 
Item 2 of 2The Scottish Repertory Cinemas Limited 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Peter, Bruce1996100 Years of Glasgow's Amazing Cinemas Edinburgh: Polygonp163, 178
Item 2 of 3RIBA1981Directory of Practices 1981   
Item 3 of 3Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)  p82-83 and 271

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6Architect and Building News1938Jul-Dec p234
Item 2 of 6Builder8 April 1938  p725
Item 3 of 6Builder22 April 1938  p801
Item 4 of 6Builder11 November 1938  p944
Item 5 of 6Glasgow Chamber of Commerce JournalAugust 1990  p238
Item 6 of 6Glasgow Herald18 May 1939   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 4Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register33118 
Item 2 of 4NMRSA Buchanan Campbell Collection Handlist of drawings
Item 3 of 4Strathclyde Regional ArchivesGlasgow Dean of Guild 1938/388, 1967/434 and 1973/412
Item 4 of 4University of StrathclydeAHAUS (Archive of Historical Architecture, University of Strathclyde)84.28