New Bedford Cinema
Encyclopedia
The New Bedford Cinema was a Scottish
cinema on Eglinton Street in the Gorbals
area of Glasgow
. The building now houses the O2 Academy Glasgow.
It is a notable example of Art Deco
architecture in the city.
in 1825. The church closed in 1920 and the building was converted into a cinema in 1921. The original Bedford Cinema was destroyed by a fire in March 1932. The cinema's owner, Bernard Frutin, immediately commissioned a replacement.
The New Bedford was designed by Lennox and McMath and was built by Mr A.B. King. The newly built cinema was opened on December 26th (Boxing Day
) 1932.
Bernard Frutin sold the cinema to George Green in 1936.
The New Bedford Cinema screened its final film, a double bill of Dirty Harry and Klute, on July 8, 1973 and reopened on October 12 1973 as a Mecca bingo hall.
The building was bought by the McKenzie Group in November 2002 and underwent a massive £3 million restoration to be turned into the Carling Academy, Glasgow which opened on March 26, 2003 with a concert by Deacon Blue
.
The building is a Category B listed building.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
cinema on Eglinton Street in the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
area of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The building now houses the O2 Academy Glasgow.
It is a notable example of Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
architecture in the city.
History
The building was originally erected as the Eglinton Street United Secession ChurchUnited Secession Church
The United Secession Church was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination. It was founded in 1820 by a union of various churches which had seceded from the established Church of Scotland and existed until 1847....
in 1825. The church closed in 1920 and the building was converted into a cinema in 1921. The original Bedford Cinema was destroyed by a fire in March 1932. The cinema's owner, Bernard Frutin, immediately commissioned a replacement.
The New Bedford was designed by Lennox and McMath and was built by Mr A.B. King. The newly built cinema was opened on December 26th (Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
) 1932.
Bernard Frutin sold the cinema to George Green in 1936.
The New Bedford Cinema screened its final film, a double bill of Dirty Harry and Klute, on July 8, 1973 and reopened on October 12 1973 as a Mecca bingo hall.
The building was bought by the McKenzie Group in November 2002 and underwent a massive £3 million restoration to be turned into the Carling Academy, Glasgow which opened on March 26, 2003 with a concert by Deacon Blue
Deacon Blue
Deacon Blue are a Scottish pop band formed in Glasgow during 1985. Their name was taken from the title of the Steely Dan song "Deacon Blues". The band consists of vocalist Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, keyboard player James Prime and drummer Dougie Vipond....
.
The building is a Category B listed building.