TOP: A nice little press ad for a new Arthur Askey film. BOTTOM: The Regal projection area
Photograph: Scottish Screen Archive Collection.

"When Al Jolson plays the "Singing Fool" in the Regal cinema this afternoon he will look on a place of entertainment which, for beauty of design and comfort in seating the audience, is not surpassed in the country.

A spacious elegance is the dominating note of the interior in its autumnal scheme of colour. Poppies are embroidered on the handsome gold satin stage curtain and concealed lamps in the roof throw off a diffused light.

From the walls of the auditorium fairy like rays of light are thrown through screens of glass flowers but this is supplementary to the immense roof pergolas right and left. A sunny sky in front, and under the balcony a sunset effect are symphonies in their delightful colouring while above the balcony there is a expola, a great bowl of fiery sky. The panels on either side of the forepart of the auditorium are fine examples of the decorative treatment which is another feature throughout the building".

These side panels featured autumn leaves landscapes, framed by arches, topped by a richly decorated barrel-vaulted ceiling. On the floor specially woven carpet continued the autumn leaves motif throughout the cinema.

The Regal Cafe opened on December 23rd 1929 and featured "dainty teas, light refreshments and a soda fountain" and was "sumptuously appointed in the Regal manner"

With its luxurious look and feel, central location and choice of ABC releases, The Regal immediately became one of the city's most popular cinemas justifying its boast that "The Regal crowns them all!!".

As with other cinemas the war years and post-war austerity had taken the shine off The Regal and in the late '50s a refurbishment took place, the autumn leaves murals were replaced by plain plasterwork with back-lit recesses and a fresh colour scheme of pink, turquoise and silver, the most important improvements however was the fitting of a wide screen and 70mm arriving just in time to take advantage of the epics coming out of Hollywood.

The Regal's continuing popularity led in 1967 to the opening of the ABC2, Scotland's first post-war cinema, The Regal was renamed the ABC1 and both cinemas traded very successfully for the next twelve years with the ABC1 showing the regular releases while the ABC2 showed the long run "roadshow" films. The "sold out" signs were a common sight at both houses, especially on a Friday and Saturday night.