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Buildings

Basic Site Details

Olympia Theatre of Varieties
Bridgeton
Glasgow
Scotland
Associated British Cinema Limited have acquired the Olympia Cinema, Bridgeton and it is to be entirely reconstructed. The company’s architect is Mr W R Glen FRIAS. [Builder 12 February 1937 Page 394]

Messrs Andrew Mitchell and Company of Cathcart have secured the contract for the reconstruction of the Olympia Picture House, Bridgeton for Associated British Cinemas Limited. The architects are Messrs McNair and Elder 272 St Vincent Street, Glasgow. [Builder 31 December 1937]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:

Alt classic

NameCurrent NameNotes
ABC CinemaNoConversion in 1937
Olympia Variety TheatreNo
County BingoYesin 1999

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
TheatreNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
Bridgeton CrossYes
4 Orr StreetYes

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
19101911
1911/09/18Opened
1935Interior demolished
1937Conversion to ABC Cinema and plans for internal remodelling
1938Internal remodelling

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.

design classic

PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
Frank MatchamA19101911In association with George Arthur & Son
George Arthur & SonA19101911In association with Frank Matcham
John BallantineA19101911As principal assistant to George Arthur & Son
John Maurice ArthurA19101911
William Riddell Glen1937Conversion to ABC Cinema - prepared plans but not executed?
Charles James McNairB1938Internal rebuilding
McNair & ElderB1938Internal rebuilding
Robert Walter ElderB1938Internal rebuilding

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

client classic

NameNotes
Scottish Cinema & Variety TheatresWere as subsidiary of ABC who therefore owned the cinema from 1924. But why did they need to acquire it if before that date it war really theirs?

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Peter, Bruce1999Scotland's Splendid Theatres: Architecture and Social History from the Reformation to the Present DayEdinburgh: Polygon (an imprint of Edinburgh University Press Ltd)p138
Peter, Bruce1996100 Years of Glasgow's Amazing CinemasEdinburgh: Polygonp152, 184
Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)p466

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

period ref classic

Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Builder1910/10/08XCIX
Architect and Building News1936Jan-Junp232
Builder1937/02/12p394
Builder1937/12/31

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersJohn Maurice Arthur: L v16 no1101 and F no1751 (microfilm reel 14); John Ballantine: L v12 no723 (microfilm reel 33)
Courtesy of Neil DarlingtonInformation sent via DSA websiteSent June 2009
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register33642