Port Glasgow Cinemas
The Plaza was opened in 1952, after its empty shell lay uncompleted since 1939.
Original seating was for over 2000, and despite the final opening date, decor was in typical 1930s style.
Now on bingo, with the front covered in ugly corrugated iron.
cinema in Port Glasgow. The plans, originally for a cinema to be called
the Eclipse to seat c.2000, were drawn up by architects Lennox and
McMath, who had also designed cinemas such as the Johnstone Globe and
the Glasgow New Bedford .
The exterior had a deep foyer block, with a 3-storey central section
and boxy facade was punctuated by a series of narrow windows, and a
centrally mounted, vertical PLAZA sign in an italic font.
Construction started in 1939, but was halted by the onset of war,
leaving an empty shell. It was not completed until 1952, opening as the
Plaza. Despite the delay in opening, the internal decoration was still
very much in a 1930s style.
Main Foyer
Balcony Foyer
Four pairs of doors led into the entrance foyer, with waves of terrazzo
decoration on the floor, and three signature cone-shaped light fixtures
hanging from the ceiling. At either side of a…
Port Glasgow Cinemas
The Plaza was opened in 1952, after its empty shell lay uncompleted since 1939.
Original seating was for over 2000, and despite the final opening date, decor was in typical 1930s style.
Now on bingo, with the front covered in ugly corrugated iron.
cinema in Port Glasgow. The plans, originally for a cinema to be called
the Eclipse to seat c.2000, were drawn up by architects Lennox and
McMath, who had also designed cinemas such as the Johnstone Globe and
the Glasgow New Bedford .
The exterior had a deep foyer block, with a 3-storey central section
and boxy facade was punctuated by a series of narrow windows, and a
centrally mounted, vertical PLAZA sign in an italic font.
Construction started in 1939, but was halted by the onset of war,
leaving an empty shell. It was not completed until 1952, opening as the
Plaza. Despite the delay in opening, the internal decoration was still
very much in a 1930s style.
Main Foyer
Balcony Foyer
Four pairs of doors led into the entrance foyer, with waves of terrazzo
decoration on the floor, and three signature cone-shaped light fixtures
hanging from the ceiling. At either side of a main ticket
kiosk, stairs led up to the stalls (on the left) and the stalls and
balcony (on the right). The spacious balcony foyer was originally
appointed with tubular chromed-metal and leather settees. In the floor,
the central compass-shaped feature in the wavy-patterned rubber floor
was a nod to the town's sea-related heritage.
The ceiling and walls of the auditorium, decorated in peach tones,
stepped down towards the screen, with concealed lighting behind the
vertical pillars and roof alcoves. Curtains in turquoise with a floral
border and picked out with butterflies opened to reveal the screen.
Twin horizontal plaster-work strips with a thistle motif led from the
sidewalls to the proscenium, and were mirrored by similar vertical
strips on the ceiling.
Splay walls from balcony
Screen area from balcony
Balcony seating
Stalls and balcony front
The Plaza closed in 1972, and became a County bingo hall. As was their
style, they covered the central portion of the facade with brown
corrugated iron cladding bearing their logo. The stalls area was
levelled and bingo tables installed, but the balcony was left
untouched. Despite the rather rundown external appearance, the interior
appears to have been well-maintained, as can be seen from the photo
galleries.
The Plaza changed hands along with the rest of County's properties in
early 2006, when it was sold to Gala Bingo. In September 2006, Gala
were refurbishing the exterior of the building, and added their own
signage to the facade, and also made other alterations, including
replacing the original main doors. It's a pity the opportunity wasn't
taken to remove the ugly corrugated iron covering the frontage at that
time...
Exterior refurbishments, September 2006
Interior photo galleries below courtesy of Bruce Murray
Foyer Gallery
Auditorium Gallery
Projection room & other spaces Gallery
