Opening in May 1939, the Cosmo was the first purpose-built art-house cinema to open outside London. Designed as the flagship for the Singleton chain, this 850-seat cinema was the final design by architect James McKissack before his death.
The building occupies a sloping site set back from Rose Street. Its large stepped tower advertises the cinema to passers-by on Sauchiehall Street. Brown brickwork with cream details, linear light wells and the tower contrast with curved sections reflecting the shape of the auditorium.
The original double-height foyer had twin staircases leading to the balcony, payboxes between the entrance doors, walnut panelling and a small kiosk. A large globe above the rear stalls entrance reinforced the international character of the films being shown.
The Cosmo was advertised with the slogan ‘Entertainment for the Discriminating’. Its bowler-hatted Mr Cosmo character became a familiar feature of newspaper advertising.
In 1968 the foyer was converted to a single-height space and a new bar was formed above it. Part of one of the original twin staircases was also removed.
The Scottish Film Council bought the Cosmo in 1973 and undertook major alterations. The balcony was extended forward to create the present Screen 1, while much of…
Opening in May 1939, the Cosmo was the first purpose-built art-house cinema to open outside London. Designed as the flagship for the Singleton chain, this 850-seat cinema was the final design by architect James McKissack before his death.
The building occupies a sloping site set back from Rose Street. Its large stepped tower advertises the cinema to passers-by on Sauchiehall Street. Brown brickwork with cream details, linear light wells and the tower contrast with curved sections reflecting the shape of the auditorium.
The original double-height foyer had twin staircases leading to the balcony, payboxes between the entrance doors, walnut panelling and a small kiosk. A large globe above the rear stalls entrance reinforced the international character of the films being shown.
The Cosmo was advertised with the slogan ‘Entertainment for the Discriminating’. Its bowler-hatted Mr Cosmo character became a familiar feature of newspaper advertising.
In 1968 the foyer was converted to a single-height space and a new bar was formed above it. Part of one of the original twin staircases was also removed.
The Scottish Film Council bought the Cosmo in 1973 and undertook major alterations. The balcony was extended forward to create the present Screen 1, while much of the original decoration survived, including the central light feature known as Mr Cosmo’s Bowler Hat. The cinema reopened as the Glasgow Film Theatre in May 1974.
The former stalls initially became conference and exhibition space. A second screen and Café Cosmo were created there in 1988. Screen 2 faces in the opposite direction to the original auditorium so that it fits beneath the former balcony.
The building was listed Category B in 1988. Screen 1 retained unusually flexible projection facilities, including the ability to present 16mm, 35mm and 70mm film.
The galleries below preserve separate surveys of the exterior, foyer and café, Screen 1 and Screen 2, together with archive photographs from 1980, 2001 and 2002.
