The original Lyceum in Govan was a music hall, converted to "Govan's Super Cinema" in 1923, and destroyed by fire in 1937. The owner A B King commissioned Charles J McNair & Elder as architects of a new state of the art cinema, with a capacity of 2,600, which opened in 1938.
The art deco design was said to have been influenced by the pavilions at the Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park. An impressive exterior matched by a luxurious interior made the Lyceum one of Glasgow's most successful cinemas. Manager Ian Bryson, known as "Mr Govan", became a well-known figure as he presided over the proceedings in evening dress.
The Lyceum survived the onset of bingo until 1974, although films continued to be shown in what was claimed to be Glasgow's first cine-bingo complex until 1981. Govan's last cinema continues as a bingo hall today.
Reference: Glasgow City Archives, D-CA 8/1344
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries and Archives
Keywords:
art deco, bingo, cinemas, Empire Exhibition, Lyceum, McNair & Elder, music halls
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