Basic Site Details

Name: Playhouse Cinema
Town, district or village: Perth
City or county: Perthshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: B listed
Grid ref:
Notes: A large site in Murray-street and Foundry-lane has been acquired for the erection of an extensive block of buildings comprising a super-cinema to seat about 1,750 persons and to cost £30,000, large tea rooms and restaurant, shops and showrooms. It is stated that it is intended to invite competitive plans for the scheme. The prompters are a northern syndicate consisting of Dr T H Alexander, Institution-road Elgin (remaining two members not readable) [Builder 26 May 1933, p840]

PERTH - The promoters of the scheme for a new cinema to seat 1,750 persons in Murray-street have appointed Mr Alex Cattenach of Kingussie as architect. Tea-rooms, shops and a car park are also proposed. The cost will be about £30,000. The proncipals are Dr T H Alexander, Elgin, Mr William Carrie, Elgin; and Mr E Wollerspoon, Inverness. [Builder 11 August 1933 Page 240]

PERTH - Messrs R Pert and Sons Limited, contractors, Montrose, have secured the contract for the erection of a new cinema in Perth. The building will have seating accommodation for about 1,800 people. Plans have been prepared by Mr Alex Cattenach, Kingussie. [Builder 18 August 1933 Page 286]

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 1Playhouse Cinema, Murray StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 21933 Competition designs submitted 
Item 2 of 219331935Build/construction 

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 2Alexander Cattanach (junior) A1933 Successful competition design
Item 2 of 2Thomas Bowhill Gibson A1933 Competition design - not successful -or perhaps acted as consultant with Cattanach as executant architect.

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 3Alexander, Dr T H, Institution Road, Elgin, et al. Member of the Syndicate of promoters
Item 2 of 3Caledonian Associated Cinemas 
Item 3 of 3Wotherspoon, Robert, of InvernessMember of the Syndicate of promoters?

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Gifford, John2007The Buildings of Scotland: Perth and Kinross Yale University Pressp627
Item 2 of 3Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecture  p560
Item 3 of 3Haynes, Nick2000Perth and Kinross: an illustrated architectural guide Edinburgh: Rutland Pressp30

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder26 May 1933  p840
Item 2 of 4Builder11 August 1933  p240
Item 3 of 4Builder18 August 1933  p286
Item 4 of 4RIBA JournalJanuary 1950v57London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp121 - obituary of Thomas Bowhill Gibson

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 5Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register39584 
Item 2 of 5National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSAlexander Cattenach Collection, RIAS 3 drawings
Item 3 of 5Perth City LibraryPerth Dean of Guild DGP/1933/53
Item 4 of 5Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Photocopy of souvenir brochure of Perth Playhouse, original held by Dr Sandy Cattanach.
Item 5 of 5RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Thomas Bowhill Gibson: L no4726 (combined box 5)