CINEMAS

In common with the rest of Glasgow, Bridgeton and Dalmarnock folk were avid picture-goers. The Star Palace and the Royal in Main St and the King's in James St were among the earliest Picture Houses in Glasgow. Although not standard practice, entry to the "wee Royal" could occasionally be obtained for a jam jar which could be redeemed for 1/2d at the shops. The Royal seems to have been the only Picture House to do this, despite the legend that this was a means of entry to many halls. However, it was a regular custom to dispense fruit, sweets or a comic to the younger patrons at the Royal. The cheap seats were wooden benches, but enterprising children could ease their discomfort by slipping over to the cushioned seats under cover of darkness!

In the 1920s a host of competitors opened to cater for the people's insatiable appetite for the "pictures". Among these were Green's at the corner of London Rd and the present Olympia St, the Arcadia in London Rd and the Strathclyde in Summerfield St. The Premier in Kirkpatrick St was known as the "Geggie". The Dalmarnock in Nuneaton St later became known as the Plaza. It seems to have played host to the first "talkie" to come to the district - "The Singing Fool".

The Royal was the lowest end of the range , but it was also the cheapest and therefore the most accessible. The top of the range was the Olympia which had been built in 1911 as a Theatre of Varieties. From 1923-1974 it operated as a cinema. In its early days it cost an extravagant 2d to sit in the Gallery. The Olympia was the last cinema operating in the area when it closed in 1974. Along with the Strathclyde, it became a bingo hall - the County Bingo & Social Club. The building itself is listed and is one of two halls to have survived, the other being the King's which is now a furniture shop.