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Glasgow has a rich history of cinema, from appearing on the big screen to spawning its stars. But the city itself was once filled with great places to catch a flick. Before the television became a household essential, the cinema was an important meeting point for people who wanted watch films.
These cinemas are now long lost, but for some the memories of the films they caught there will be as vivid as ever. We take a look at the cinemas and what happened to them once the credits rolled.
Keep reading to find 18 great pictures of long lost Glasgow cinemas.
13. Theatre De Luxe
It's been almost 100 years since the Theatre De Luxe closed its doors. Opened November 1911 as a small auditorium accessed by heading down a long corridor leading out to the rear of a tenement. It closed in 1930, and the Loon Fung restaurant; the original decorated ceiling may survive above a suspended ceiling. | Glasgow Libraries
14. Casino Cinema
Opened October 1911 by AE Pickard. Purpose built as a cinema by architect George A Boswell to seat 987. Sold to the Glasgow Casino Ltd., in March 1924. Closed in February 1965. Used for bingo until 1968. Demolished in 1973. | Glasgow Libraries
15. The Vogue
Opening as the Mecca in August 1933, the Mecca was designed by James McKissack for Smith and Welsh. It originally seated 1,620. In January 1950 it was sold to the Singleton circuit, and renamed Vogue. Recent years have seen efforts to save the building by locals, including Andrew Moore. In July 2025, the appeal to overturn the listing was formally rejected by Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government. | Photo © Peter Degnan, all rights reserved.
16. St Enoch Picture House
One of the oldest examples on the list. Opened in 1881 as Crouch's Theatre of Varieties. First showed films in 1897, but was rebuilt as the St. Enoch Picture Theatre in 1913, and seated around 600. It closed as a cinema in 1935 and is now part of the shops on Argyle Street. | Virtual Mitchell