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 NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes |  | ABC Cinema | | Conversion in 1937 |  | County Bingo | Yes | in 1999 |  | Olympia Variety Theatre | | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes |  | Theatre | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes |  | Bridgeton Cross | Yes | |  | 4, Orr Street | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes |  | 1910 | 1911 | | |  | 18 September 1911 | | | Opened |  | 1935 | | | Interior demolished |  | 1937 | | | Conversion to ABC Cinema and plans for internal remodelling |  | 1938 | | | Internal remodelling |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe 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. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes |  | Frank Matcham | Architect | A | 1910 | 1911 | In association with George Arthur & Son |  | George Arthur & Son | Architectural practice | A | 1910 | 1911 | In association with Frank Matcham |  | John Ballantine | Architect | A | 1910 | 1911 | As principal assistant to George Arthur & Son |  | John Maurice Arthur | Architect | A | 1910 | 1911 | |  | William Riddell Glen | Architect | | 1937 | | Conversion to ABC Cinema - prepared plans but not executed? |  | Charles James McNair | Architect | B | 1938 | | Internal rebuilding |  | McNair & Elder | Architectural practice | B | 1938 | | Internal rebuilding |  | Robert Walter Elder | Architect | B | 1938 | | Internal rebuilding |
ClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes |  | Scottish Cinema & Variety Theatres | Were 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? |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Peter, Bruce | 1996 | 100 Years of Glasgow's Amazing Cinemas | | Edinburgh: Polygon | p152, 184 |  | Peter, Bruce | 1999 | Scotland's Splendid Theatres: Architecture and Social History from the Reformation to the Present Day | | Edinburgh: Polygon (an imprint of Edinburgh University Press Ltd) | p138 |  | Williamson, Riches, Higgs | 1990 | Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland) | | | p466 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Architect and Building News | 1936 | Jan-Jun | | p232 |  | Builder | 8 October 1910 | XCIX | | |  | Builder | 12 February 1937 | | | p394 |  | Builder | 31 December 1937 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes |  | Courtesy of Neil Darlington | Information sent via DSA website | | Sent June 2009 |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 33642 | |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | John Maurice Arthur: L v16 no1101 and F no1751 (microfilm reel 14); John Ballantine: L v12 no723 (microfilm reel 33) |
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