30 Mid Street
Opened 1921. Designed by Sutherland and George. Now a bingo
hall .
Exterior photo courtesy of Norrie Mcnamee.
Interior view from c.1950 showing a full house during a Christmas
Pantomime performance.
Courtesy of Robert Henderson, Fraserburgh Heritage
Centre .
Empire Picture Palace
Opened in former Riddell's skating rink.
Demolished
Playhouse
Now demolished.
Demolition gallery here ,
courtesy of George Basterfield and Eric Morrice.
Additional earlier photo
courtesy of Derek Mathieson
Ideal Kinema: April 6, 1939: Playhouse
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh's new
kinema, the Playhouse, which was opened at the beginning
of March, is due to the enterprise of Caledonian
Associated Cinemas, Ltd., Major Cattanach, of Kingussie
being the architect.
Work on the erection of the kinema has been carried out
since last autumn, when the former buildings were
acquired. Houses which stood on the site have been
removed, and in their place there now stands in High
Street the handsome cream frontage.
The floors and steps of the entrance hall are finished
in a fine design of terrazzo in delicate shades of
creamy white, bordered with green and black, which
harmonises with the wall colours and gives an air of
luxury to the hall.
Through wide doors entrance is…
30 Mid Street
Opened 1921. Designed by Sutherland and George. Now a bingo
hall .
Exterior photo courtesy of Norrie Mcnamee.
Interior view from c.1950 showing a full house during a Christmas
Pantomime performance.
Courtesy of Robert Henderson, Fraserburgh Heritage
Centre .
Empire Picture Palace
Opened in former Riddell's skating rink.
Demolished
Playhouse
Now demolished.
Demolition gallery here ,
courtesy of George Basterfield and Eric Morrice.
Additional earlier photo
courtesy of Derek Mathieson
Ideal Kinema: April 6, 1939: Playhouse
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh's new
kinema, the Playhouse, which was opened at the beginning
of March, is due to the enterprise of Caledonian
Associated Cinemas, Ltd., Major Cattanach, of Kingussie
being the architect.
Work on the erection of the kinema has been carried out
since last autumn, when the former buildings were
acquired. Houses which stood on the site have been
removed, and in their place there now stands in High
Street the handsome cream frontage.
The floors and steps of the entrance hall are finished
in a fine design of terrazzo in delicate shades of
creamy white, bordered with green and black, which
harmonises with the wall colours and gives an air of
luxury to the hall.
Through wide doors entrance is gained to a comfortable
foyer of 30ft width, from which a double staircase rises
to the balcony. The colour scheme is pleasing and
restful to the eye, the hall and staircase being tinted
in two tones of fresh green over the mahogany dado.
Silver, orange, emerald and violet, painted in a light
filigree design, break the plain surface, and give an
interest to the whole design.
The architectural lines of the auditorium have been
accentuated by the scheme of colours, which is based on
orange tints, gold green and black in well-disposed
touches.
The auditorium is seated with the latest type of tip-up
chairs.
In the balcony, the chairs are coloured green to match
the surroundings, the back stalls are finished in brown
moquette and the front stalls are blue. The balcony has
accomodation for 261 persons and the stalls for 774, so
that the total seating capacity is 1,035.
Alfred Harold (Uniforms) Ltd., were responsible for the
dressing of the staff here, the male staff being in
emerald green with gold braid and the girls in green
trimmed blue and gold.
A well-equipped and spacious projection room is
incorporated in the Playhouse in which Kalee projectors
are installed, operating with BTH sound.
Contractos for work in this theatre included: Joinery
and masonry, R Perk, Montrose; decorating, A McDonald,
Forres; electrical installation, TC Smith, Aberdeen.
