Hippodrome Cinema, Bo'ness

History

The Bo'ness Hippodrome Cinema is regarded as one of the UK's oldest and first purpose built cinema. The cinema opened in 1911 and was built by the Bo'ness cinematography pioneer Louis Dickson and designed by renowned local architect Matthew Steele. The cinema was originally built using a fairly plain and drab interior.

The name and circular form of the building Steele produced for Dickson might suggest it was originally designed as a circus or theatre venue for travelling shows, but the earliest known plans, dated October 1911, show no evidence of this, but do show a dedicated Operators box for a projector, and indeed are labelled 'Proposed Picture Palace, Hope Street'.

Contstructed on a corner site, the Hippodrome consisted of a circular auditorium with wrap-around gallery facing a proscenium and small stage. What little ancillary space was wrapped around this, filling in the corners of the site. The Oct 1911 plans even show that at this stage, the lavatories were 'to be built later'! The flat roof was supported on three girders, running parallel to the screen.

This however was altered in 1926 when the cinema underwent various transformations including adding a domed roof and ticket office. The building remained in use as a cinema until the late 60's when it was turned into a bingo hall and remained as this until 1980 when it closed. Since then it was left abandoned at the mercy of vandals.

Future

Follwowing grants from various organisations amounting to £1.8 million, the cinema has been undergoing renovation since the middle of 2006 and was finally completed on 14 February 2008 where the keys were handed over to its new owner, Falkirk District Council. The cinema is now going through its final phase where the modern cinema projection and sound equipment are being added before opening once again as a cinema in late 2008. The building is also planned to be used as an exhibition centre by day.