Scottish Cinemas and Theatres

ABC's recently opened Edinburgh picture house, the Regal, preserves in its grey stone exterior the character which makes up the charm of the Northern city. Above its entrance hall height its appearance is that of an office building, its window spaces suggesting the commerical rather than the entertainment type of building. Black marble used for the street level with doors set on the corner where the streets meet and a canopy extending well over the whole entrance area. A name sign is set on the canopy itself.

The spacious interior is unpretentious, a severity of treatment being generally noticeable except at the proscenium end, where the side walls attract attention. A delicately executed panel is a feature of this decoration and beyond this a louvred space, divided by horizontal bands, is flanked by smaller grille features.

Curtains give a rich appearance, the outer tabs bearing an appliqued design in various coloured satins and slightly festooned.


The screen borders and curtains are also festooned and the wing curtains plain gathered. Hall and Dixon, Ltd., was responsible for these and for the general house curtains in various materials. Carpets and floor coverings were also laid by Hall and Dixon.
Ross projectors are installed with Western Electric Mirrophonic, and a Hewittic twin-bulb rectifier with an output of 150 amps at 100 volts DC suplies the arc.
A chloride battery of 48 sealed-in cells operated on a 100-volt floating battering system supplies emergency lighting.