Basic Site Details

Name: Business premises for J T Whitelaw's Trust
City or county: Glasgow
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Robert Thomson was employed as consultant at the suggestion of Dr David Murray of McLay Murray & Spens to advise on the technical aspects of the construction only. Alexander Wright drew the details. The building was designed as a retail warehouse but was sold to Glasgow Photo Playhouse and converted to a cinema by Neil C Duff and James McKissack and opened 17 October 1912. The interior was rebuilt 1936 by Alister G MacDonald but has sonce returned to retail use.

Information from Alexander Wright


Plans are being prepared by Mr Alister G MacDonald ARIBA 14 John-street Adelphi, WC2 for a scheme to modernise the La Scala Cinema, Sauchiehall Street Glasgow. [Builder 20 March 1936 Page 613]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1La Scala CinemaYes 

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 2147-163, Sauchiehall StreetYes 
Item 2 of 2150-152, Wellington StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 71908  Built as a retail warehouse
Item 2 of 71912  Converted to cinema
Item 3 of 712 October 1912  Opened as cinema
Item 4 of 71932 Alterations and additionsProposed
Item 5 of 71936  Interior rebuilt
Item 6 of 7August 1936  Reopened after rebuilding
Item 7 of 7October 1951 Alteration/conversionPlans in hand for alterations and additions

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 8Charles Edward Whitelaw B1908 Original retail warehouse
Item 2 of 8Henry Mitchell B1908 Original retail warehouse
Item 3 of 8Mitchell & Whitelaw B1908 Original retail warehouse
Item 4 of 8James McKissack A1912 With Duff. Conversion to cinema
Item 5 of 8John McKissack & Son A1912 With Duff. Conversion to cinema
Item 6 of 8Neil Campbell Duff A1912 With McKissack. Conversion to cinema
Item 7 of 8Alister Gladstone MacDonald (or Alistair Gladstone MacDonald)  1936 Interior rebuilding
Item 8 of 8Lennox & Paterson  1951 For alterations and additions

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 3Caledonian Cinemas 
Item 2 of 3Glasgow Photo Playhouse LtdFor 1932 and other works including those in 1951
Item 3 of 3Whitelaw's Trust, J TClient for the original building

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Peter, Bruce1996100 Years of Glasgow's Amazing Cinemas Edinburgh: Polygonp25-8, 182
Item 2 of 2Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)  p240

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6Architect and Building News1936Jan-Jun p413
Item 2 of 6Builder10 June 1932  p1026
Item 3 of 6Builder20 March 1936  p613
Item 4 of 6Builder12 October 1951  p502
Item 5 of 6Building Industries1908  Exact date missing. CHECK
Item 6 of 6Glasgow Herald18 October 1912   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 2Courtesy of Neil DarlingtonInformation sent via DSA website Sent June 2009
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Henry Mitchell: L v19 no1465; Charles Edward Whitelaw: L v21 no1672