Down Memory Lane: Film lovers were spoiled for choice in Inverness years gone by
This year marks the centenary of its opening, and 22 years since its doors finally closed. Inverness enjoyed and supported three town centre cinemas 60 years ago – the La Scala the oldest, and last to go dark, writes columnist Bill McAllister.
It is now 27 years since the La Scala played host to what was dubbed “Hollywood in the Highlands”, with thousands lining the streets to see stars arrive for the world premiere of Loch Ness.
Merchant Alexander Strother, who gave his name to Strothers Lane, built and owned a house at the corner of the street in the 1860s. It was on that location, at the junction of Academy Street and the lane, that celebrated Inverness architect Alexander Ross and his son would build Kelso’s La Scala Cinema.
The company which invested in the celluloid dreamworld was Kelso’s La Scala Picture Palace Ltd. Ross designed it for 1000 people, complete with tearooms. It opened in 1913.
It had, of all things, a fountain in front of the 34 foot long stage. Three of the box seats on the right hand side had open viewing, so café patrons could watch the silent moviesas they dined. The boxes would eventually be concreted over.
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The original entrance sported a canopy reaching out from the building to the edge of the pavement – but it was regularly damaged by buses cutting the corner!
The year before the La Scala’s debut, the Central Picture House opened in Academy Street, owned by Inverness Picture House Ltd with seating for 1100.
It would be converted to a theatre in 1931 and by 1934 would be renamed Empire Theatre, with Harry Lauder the star turn on opening night. It closed in 1970 and BT offices were built on its site, now the Pentahotel.
Inverness Picture House Ltd later acquired La Scala, ending the Kelso connection.
The Playhouse Cinema, at the top of Academy Street, seated just under 1500 posteriors when it opened in 1929, owned by the Highland Cinema Company. Ten years later it was curtain up at the Palace Cinema in Huntly Street, owned by New Cinema (Inverness) Ltd.
Eventually all three cinemas would be owned by Caledonian Associated Cinemas, headed by Sir Alexander King and local accountant John Frame, whose son played rugby for Scotland.
In 1963, the Palace was first to fall, being converted into a bingo hall which would last until 2006, with the site becoming home to a Premier Inn.
The Playhouse, always regarded as the upmarket cinema, followed in dramatic circumstances in March 1972, catching fire during the screening of Le Mans, starring Steve McQueen. The blaze destroyed the premises and, to great local regret, it never reopened.
This left La Scala in splendid isolation. It had been reshaped in the 1950s to three spectator aisles of 200 each, with 250 in the balcony. In 1978, to offer choice, it became a twin-screen venue, the more popular film screened in what had been the aisles, with the other one upstairs.
The La Scala’s greatest moment came with the Loch Ness premiere on February 3, 1996, when Academy Street was jampacked as Inverness Schools Pipe Band led stars Ted Danson and Joely Richardson to the premiere.
There was laughter when Provost Bill Fraser referred to “Ted Dancing” but the screening, with invites as coveted locally as a Hollywood opening night, put Inverness in the international spotlight. The cast later enjoyed drinks at Aldourie Castle before their flight to London.
Invernessians of a certain vintage will fondly recall the Saturday morning kids’ film shows at the La Scala.
Its closure in January 2001 was the end of an era. The La Scala story, fittingly, ended with Bogart and Bergman as Casablanca was its farewell film.
Demolished four years later, an estate agency and flats now stand where the flickering screen of the city centre’s last cinema entertained so many.
n Sponsored by Ness Castle Lodges.
