Former La Scala Cinema

Former La Scala Cinema

A purpose-built cinema designed by architects Wilson and Tait in 1913, with a mid-20th century addition to the east elevation, possibly by the same architects. The building is designed in the Scots Renaissance style, comprising a single-storey decorative entrance elevation with a three-storey hall-style auditorium behind. It is prominently sited in the town centre of Grangemouth, adjacent to a number of public buildings.

The seven-bay, single-storey entrance block is nearly symmetrical, with paired two-storey outer pavilions featuring ogee roofs. The central entrance is inscribed 'Empire Electric Theatre' with an ornate 17th-century Scots Renaissance style scrolled and finalled swan-neck pediment above. The bays are divided by moulded pilasters with obelisk finials above the parapet. Tripartite openings with moulded margins and cills occupy the central bays. The outer pavilions have moulded door pieces with broken segmental-arched pediments containing tablet-stones, giant composite-order corner pilasters, and tripartite windows at eaves level. The entrance block is constructed in Scotch-bond red brick with sandstone ashlar dressings, a base course, moulded cornice, and blocking course.

The auditorium block runs lengthways behind the vestibule and steps down slightly in height from left to right, with bays marked by brick pilasters. A narrow rendered addition dating to the 1930s extends to the east, featuring a cantilevered projection booth at upper level and irregular fenestration.

The principal elevation has fixed-pane timber-framed windows; the west elevation has metal-framed windows. The ogee pavilion roofs are slated with clay cans and cast-iron rainwater goods. The remainder of the building has corrugated sheet material roofing.

The interior retains design details from the early and mid-20th century decorative schemes. Columnettes divide bays, and square columns stand in front of a curved balcony which retains cinema seating. A segmental-arched ribbed ceiling surmounts the space, with a proscenium featuring cartouche detail. Metal hatches provide access to the projection room. The void behind the stage shows evidence of rigging and elevated gantries, indicating the building was originally intended to function as a traditional theatre. The lower-level floor areas contain bingo-style table seating.

The building first appeared on the Ordnance Survey map in 1915 (surveyed 1914). It was one of the earliest purpose-built cinemas constructed in Scotland following the Cinematograph Act of 1910. Plans for the 'Empire Electric Theatre' were submitted to the Dean of Guild Court in July 1913, and a Limited Company was established with share subscriptions set at £1 each. The building was constructed in just over 12 weeks at a cost of £3000 and opened on 22 December 1913, with the opening night advertised in the Falkirk Herald and featuring various live performing artists. The Falkirk History Society records that it was used for both vaudeville-style shows and cinema, and housed an orchestra.

The cinema was built to serve the growing population of Grangemouth following the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society's establishment of a large soap and glycerine factory in the town in 1897. Previously, residents had to travel to Falkirk for entertainment.

The auditorium was partially rebuilt in 1930 to accommodate new sound technology following the introduction of talking pictures, work possibly undertaken by architect Alistair G Macdonald, son of Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald. At the height of its popularity during the 1940s, the auditorium held 655 seats. The interior was remodelled following fires in 1952 and 1962, and again when it was converted to a Bingo Hall in 1971. In 2016, it was taken over by the Lanarkshire Cinema Company and renamed the La Scala.