Basic Site Details

Name: Olympia Theatre of Varieties
Town, district or village: Bridgeton
City or county: Glasgow
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Associated British Cinema Limited have acquired the Olympia Cinema, Bridgeton and it is to be entirely reconstructed. The company’s architect is Mr W R Glen FRIAS. [Builder 12 February 1937 Page 394]

Messrs Andrew Mitchell and Company of Cathcart have secured the contract for the reconstruction of the Olympia Picture House, Bridgeton for Associated British Cinemas Limited. The architects are Messrs McNair and Elder 272 St Vincent Street, Glasgow. [Builder 31 December 1937]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 3ABC Cinema Conversion in 1937
Item 2 of 3County BingoYesin 1999
Item 3 of 3Olympia Variety Theatre  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Theatre  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2Bridgeton CrossYes 
Item 2 of 24, Orr StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 519101911  
Item 2 of 518 September 1911  Opened
Item 3 of 51935  Interior demolished
Item 4 of 51937  Conversion to ABC Cinema and plans for internal remodelling
Item 5 of 51938  Internal remodelling

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 8Frank MatchamArchitectA19101911In association with George Arthur & Son
Item 2 of 8George Arthur & SonArchitectural practiceA19101911In association with Frank Matcham
Item 3 of 8John BallantineArchitectA19101911As principal assistant to George Arthur & Son
Item 4 of 8John Maurice ArthurArchitectA19101911 
Item 5 of 8William Riddell GlenArchitect 1937 Conversion to ABC Cinema - prepared plans but not executed?
Item 6 of 8Charles James McNairArchitectB1938 Internal rebuilding
Item 7 of 8McNair & ElderArchitectural practiceB1938 Internal rebuilding
Item 8 of 8Robert Walter ElderArchitectB1938 Internal rebuilding

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Scottish Cinema & Variety TheatresWere as subsidiary of ABC who therefore owned the cinema from 1924. But why did they need to acquire it if before that date it war really theirs?

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Peter, Bruce1996100 Years of Glasgow's Amazing Cinemas Edinburgh: Polygonp152, 184
Item 2 of 3Peter, Bruce1999Scotland's Splendid Theatres: Architecture and Social History from the Reformation to the Present Day Edinburgh: Polygon (an imprint of Edinburgh University Press Ltd)p138
Item 3 of 3Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)  p466

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Architect and Building News1936Jan-Jun p232
Item 2 of 4Builder8 October 1910XCIX  
Item 3 of 4Builder12 February 1937  p394
Item 4 of 4Builder31 December 1937   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Courtesy of Neil DarlingtonInformation sent via DSA website Sent June 2009
Item 2 of 3Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register33642 
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers John Maurice Arthur: L v16 no1101 and F no1751 (microfilm reel 14); John Ballantine: L v12 no723 (microfilm reel 33)

Images

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