ABC Coliseum Cinema Glasgow

97 Eglinton Street, Laurieston

Opened: December 18th 1905
Closed: October 11th 1980

Number of screens: 1
Number of seats
(1905): 2893
(1931): 3094
(1963): 1310

'60s however the increasing popularity of television had started to seriously affect cinema attendances both in Britain and America and Hollywood introduced various widescreen formats, some of which had been in development since before the war, to combat television's appeal including the one that which would provide The Coliseum's next incarnation - Cinerama.

Cinerama required considerable investment by the cinema owners, three synchronized projectors were required to show film shot by the three cameras and a new six track sound system was needed, all of which came together on a special 146 degree louvered screen measuring an awesome 90 feet wide by 30 feet high, one of the biggest in the country

The conversion of The Coliseum took place in August 1963 at a cost of some £80,000 with the three projectors flown in to Prestwick from Cinerama's Long Island plant. Almost all traces of the original theatre disappeared behind curtains, drapes and a suspended ceiling and the seating capacity was reduced from just over 3,000 to 1,310 seats. Although radically different the resulting alterations created a modern, streamlined and luxurious feel, sadly the exterior alterations with the almost inevitable corrugated metal backing for the Cinerama logo were less than kind to the red sandstone entrance.

Designed by Frank Matcham, The Coliseum opened in December 1905 as part of the Moss's Empires variety circuit. The Colly played host to all types of entertainment from stand up comedy to classical music and was one of the most popular theatres of the day.

In 1925 The Coliseum was sold to John Maxwell, a showman who had started out screening films in Glasgow Corporation Halls and who would eventually form ABC, Britain's biggest cinema circuit.

For its first four years under Maxwell The Coliseum showed the silent films of the time but in 1929 The Coliseum made Glasgow cinema history when it was fitted for sound and on January 7th showed the Warner Bros talkie The Singing Fool - the first talkie to be shown in the city.

The response to this film was overwhelming with queues stretching for several blocks and supporting features dropped to accommodate extra performances during its six week run. Customers came from all over the city helped by The Colly's proximity to Bridge Street Subway station.

For the next 33 years The Coliseum was the south side's main ABC cinema showing first run British films from studios like Elstree and the best of Hollywood from Warners and MGM. Bythe mid '50s/ early