PRESS RELEASE 

November 2006

Proposed Development to Ruin Unique Glasgow Cinema

The Cinema Theatre Association is shocked to discover that the rare Egyptian style Govanhill Picture House in Glasgow is set to be completely ruined by developers trying to maximise on the Category B listed cinema’s land value. A six storey residential block is planned for the site and only a small portion of the historic frontage will be kept as a token gesture to its history and importance.

Only a year ago Glasgow City Council rejected plans seeking the total demolition of this outstanding building. Now the developers are attempting to mollify the listed building requirements by leaving a remnant of the original entrance in place. No attempt has been made by the owners to find an alternative use that would have retained the building in its entirety, despite the fact there is interest locally in keeping it for community use.

The cinema was designed by Eric A. Sutherland in 1926, and the exterior was designed to look very much like an Arabian city wall. It has the a white rough plastered appearance, complete with a screen-like balustrade with perforated stonework flanking the central protruding entrance gateway, itself mounted by two copper topped turrets. White and soft green bands of tiling either side of the doorway match the verdigris of the towers. Fluted Egyptian lotus glazed columns support the arched opening of the doorway. The cinema name is tiled above the entrance, and topped by an ornate winged globe that is typical of this style.

Historic Scotland stipulates that three tests need to be met in order to demolish or substantially alter parts of a listed building. These tests involve an assessment of the buildings importance, its physical condition and the potential for alternative use. The building must have also been offered for sale at a realistic price on the open market. No written evidence that the tests have been met has been provided with the current application. In terms of listed building consent this application should therefore be considered invalid.

"The Egyptian style became fashionable for cinema design with the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. Examples abroad include the famous Graumans Egyptian in Hollywood, but most of these buildings have now been demolished. Only a handful survive making Egyptian style cinemas very much a rarity in worldwide terms. Glasgow has a real gem here and this is certainly the only such building we have in Scotland. But it will be lost if the plans for this incredibly destructive redevelopment scheme are approved," says Gordon Barr of CTA Scotland who is fighting to keep the bulldozers at bay. "The absolute rarity of this cinema is recognized by national organizations such as the Twentieth Century Society, SAVE Britain’s Heritage, the Theatres Trust and The Ancient Monuments Society as well as the Scottish AHSS, the Scottish Civic Trust and the internationally operating DoCoMoMo. They are all as outraged as we are about this and are supporting our campaign."

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