Strathclyde Fire Brigade fighting the fire at The Regent in 1971

Originally The Cinema Picture House

Renfield Street, City Centre

Opened: December 25th 1911
Closed: May 30th 1982

Designed by: Neil C Duff

Number of screens: 1
Number of seats: 633, 1314 after rebuilding

The Cinema Picture House opened in December 1911 and boasted an elegant facade but was only one storey high and had just 633 seats. In 1920 was rebuilt with the auditorium extended along Bath Lane and a second storey added to accommodate a balcony.

The rebuilding not only retained the facade but doubled the seating capacity and The Regent, as it was now named developed a loyal following despite competition from other cinemas such as the nearby Odeon and remained a popular cinema for many years.

During a run of the Michael Caine thriller Get Carter in 1971 a fire threatened the future of The Regent but a final refurbishment including new seats and a screen took place.

The owners, Glasgow Photo Playhouse sold both The La Scala and The Regent to Caledonian Associated Cinemas in the late 70s and it continued to do reasonable business until a combination of second run films and only one screen forced its closure in May 1982. In a matter of weeks it had been demolished and was replaced by an office block.