Kelvin
Designed by prolific cinema
architects Gardner & Glen, the Kelvin opened in May 1930,
originally seating 1,957. The interior was in the atmospheric style,
with fairytale-style buildings on podiums either side of the screen,
and a painted ceiling (a photo of
which can be seen on theglasgowstory.com
website).
Closing
as a cinema in 1959, the Kelvin went on to have numerous other
uses - as a boxing arena, bingo club, nightclub, and eventually after a spell of
dereliction, the Creme de la Creme restaurant.
To make the auditorium more suitable for restaurant use, the stalls
floor was levelled, with the front built up to the level of the rear.
The balcony rake was removed, and two flat floors inserted, one at
balcony front level (for additional restaurant seating), and one
smaller one higher up at the rear (for toilets). The projection room
was adapted to hold water tanks. A new wall in front of the original
proscenium created additional kitchen space in the stage and side areas.
Although most of the original
decoration had not survived, the interior retained a cinema 'feel',
and several
small
portions of decorative plasterwork could still be seen, with more
being hidden intact above…
Kelvin
Designed by prolific cinema
architects Gardner & Glen, the Kelvin opened in May 1930,
originally seating 1,957. The interior was in the atmospheric style,
with fairytale-style buildings on podiums either side of the screen,
and a painted ceiling (a photo of
which can be seen on theglasgowstory.com
website).
Closing
as a cinema in 1959, the Kelvin went on to have numerous other
uses - as a boxing arena, bingo club, nightclub, and eventually after a spell of
dereliction, the Creme de la Creme restaurant.
To make the auditorium more suitable for restaurant use, the stalls
floor was levelled, with the front built up to the level of the rear.
The balcony rake was removed, and two flat floors inserted, one at
balcony front level (for additional restaurant seating), and one
smaller one higher up at the rear (for toilets). The projection room
was adapted to hold water tanks. A new wall in front of the original
proscenium created additional kitchen space in the stage and side areas.
Although most of the original
decoration had not survived, the interior retained a cinema 'feel',
and several
small
portions of decorative plasterwork could still be seen, with more
being hidden intact above a flat suspended ceiling.
In September 2004, planning permission was granted to demolish the
building and
replace it with shops and flats. The Creme de la Creme closed in March
2005, and demolition began in May 2005.
Additional exterior photos prior to closure
here,
here,
here and
1980s exterior shot
here, courtesy of Chris Doak.
Details of the exterior and original decorative ironwork on the canopy:
Latest demolition photos:
(
May
17th 2005) - scaffolding up and interior being gutted (courtesy
Graham Kelly)
(
May
19th 2005) - roof cladding starting to be removed
(
May
27th 2005) - large hole in rear wall
(
May
28th 2005) - additional shot of hole in rear wall.
Demolition Gallery -
survey of all remaining original features in the building,
taken June 2005.
Demolition Gallery - 12
June 2005; original ceiling and balcony have now gone.
Demolition Gallery - 18
June 2005; roof being stripped off.
(
June 20th
2005)
- Top of the tower gone (courtesy
Graham Kelly)
(
June 21st
2005)
- More of the roof gone (courtesy
Graham Kelly)
(
June 21st 2005 1,
2,
3)
- Roof girders being removed.
(
June 27th
2005 - Morning,
Afternoon)
- Auditorium almost gone (courtesy
Graham Kelly)
(
June 28th
2005
)
- View from the front (courtesy
Graham Kelly)
(
June 29th
2005)
- Auditorium almost gone (courtesy
Graham Kelly)
(
July 1st 2005)
- Only the last few girders remain.
(
July 3rd 2005 1,
2)
- With the auditorium gone, work starts removing the foyer block.
(
July 4th
2005)
- View from the front (courtesy
Graham Kelly)
(
July 5th 2005 1,
2) - Foyer block interior and rubble where the auditorium used to be (courtesy
Graham Kelly).
(
July 7th 2005) - Foyer block starts to go... (courtesy
Graham Kelly).
(
July 8th 2005 1,
2) - Scaffolding comes down, and so does the frontage... (courtesy
Graham Kelly).
(
July 10th 2005 1,
2) - Rubble.
(
July 11th 2005) - End of the Kelvin (courtesy
Graham Kelly).
