La Scala Cinema Glasgow

157 Sauchiehall Street, City Centre

Opened: October 17th 1912
Rebuilt: August 1936
Closed: May 25h 1984

Number of screens:
(1912) 1
(1976) 2
(1978) 3

Number of seats::
Screen 1: 650
Screen 2: 250
Screen 3: 110

in addition to which attractive new upholstery and curtains were fitted.

Its excellent location and features allowed the La Scala not only to prosper over the years but also survive the first big slump in cinema-going in the 1960's and in 1976, the La Scala, which by now was owned by CAC Leisure, was twinned with a third screen being added in 1978.

Although these conversions were generally accepted as being unsympathetic they did provide valuable extra business and revenue for a cinema now competing with the recently tripled Odeon in nearby Renfield Street and with more competition to come from the impending conversion of the ABC1 in Sauchiehall Street. A final, ill-conceived and desperate makeover occurred in 1981, although this consisted of little more than erecting a vulgar gold and red spangled sign over the facade that would have looked more at home in a Soho strip club and a pointless change of name to Scala Film Centre, but the problem for CAC of securing quality first run films against competition from the major circuits proved too much and the La Scala closed on May 28th 1984 after screenings of Police Academy, Night Moves and Risky Business.

The La Scala, a conversion of a former warehouse was opened in October 1912 by Glasgow Photo Playhouse, a series of passages and stairs led not only to a 1000 seat auditorium but also tea rooms facing the screens, allowing the patrons to take high tea while watching the film, indeed such was the popularity of these tea rooms that as Scottish Country Life noted in 1928 "...it is an advantage for busy people to have luncheon or tea and and at the same time to see what is being performed on the screen...", although courting couples who appreciated the shaded lighting might have been less interested in the film being shown.

A popular feature of cinemas of the day was an organ and the La Scala was no exception with an "All British Christie Unit Organ" being installed in 1928 to entertain patrons before the show and during the intermission with the directors of the La Scala advertising it as "... one of the most modern music marvels..." which would "...give pleasure to all lovers of music"

The La Scala was refurbished in 1936 increasing the seating to 1,300 and improving sight lines which had previously suffered from balcony supporting columns,