69th Year! 
69th Year!
The Whole Story of The Kinema Ballroom Dunfermline
(Includes the Cinemas of Dunfermline & Rosyth)
69th Year! |
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| Pix & Vidz (Click images for a larger size) These images are listed roughly in chronological order, oldest first. The Kinema Ballroom (Pix of individual bands will be found on their own 'Biogz' page).
An interior view of "Dunfermline's New Ballroom" in 1938.
Opening Night Advert
Opening night autograph hunters surround bandleader, Mr Jack Jackson.
Mr. George Gilchrist Hylands, first Kinema Ballroom Manager and former manager of the adjacent cinema 'The Palace Kinema'. He managed The kinema ballroom from its opening night on 23rd December 1938 until early April 1946 when he was taken to a Dunfermline Nursing Home and sadly died two weeks later on Saturday April 20th 1946. He was an Edinburgh man and had been a successful music hall variety artiste before entering the world of entertainment management. He was manager of The Palace Kinema from 1933 and from 1938 until his death in 1946, managed both The Palace Kinema and The Kinema Ballroom. He was succeeded at The Palace Kinema by his son Mr. George Gilchrist.
The original 'Kinema Ballroom's main entrance at No.19 Pilmuir Street (1940s?).
The original 'Kinema Ballroom's main entrance at No.19 Pilmuir Street (10/02/2006). This was also the entrance for events held in 'The Starlight Lounge' after the new frontage on Carnegie Street/Drive was complete in 1964. This entrance is now only used for deliveries to the ballroom & adjacent bar.
A journey through the original entrance to the original Kinema building.
1 The original 'Kinema Ballroom' main entrance at No.19 Pilmuir Street (1940s) ... and out again at the end of the night.
5 The daunting journey down the stairs commences!
'Kinema Ballroom' revellers in the 1940s.
Built in 1938 and still part of the ballroom today, the original 'Kinema Ballroom' building taken from the south (10/02/2006).
'The Kinema Ballroom' mid/late 1960s? This extension to the original premises was built in 1964.
Cecil R Hunter 'Mr. Kinema Ballroom' was Manager 1959 - 1973 Born in West Hartlepool (a trumpet, cornet & double bass player) Cecil died on the 16th of April 1993 in the Clubhouse of Canmore Golf Course Dunfermline aged 85. The story of Cecil, the ballroom & The Beatles in 1963 can be found here
A 'Grand Beat Competition' was held on Thursday 29th June 1967 adjudicated by David Jacobs (presenter of the hugely popular TV show 'Juke Box Jury'). Ten groups played for the East of Scotland heat, 8pm till 1am for the admission price of 6/-. Who were the groups? Tell me here.
The Kinema Ballroom with The Clash's Lorry & Van Outside on Thursday 6th July 1978
The cancelled Siouxsie & The Banshees gig from 9th September 1979.
Siouxsie & The Banshees & The Scars were billed to appear on Sunday 9th September 1979 as part of the 'Join Hands Tour', however the gig was cancelled (tickets were advertised and sold for £2). The night before, Kenny Morris and John McKay walked out of the band prior to that evening's gig in Aberdeen. They hopped into a taxi, went to Stonehaven, then got the first available train to London. Despite that, the Aberdeen gig went ahead, but the Banshees only played a couple of songs, accompanied by Robert Smith and The Cure's drummer. This led to the cancellation of the ballroom gig and the next couple of dates too, but the rest of the tour went on with Robert Smith playing for both The Cure and The Banshees, with Budgie taking over the drumming duties. (Nearly 20 years later, Siouxsie and Budgie were in a remote hotel in the Lake District, when they went down for an evening meal on their first night there and who should be sitting at the next table but John McKay and his wife! This was the first time they had met since McKay and Morris went AWOL in 1979...! (Oh to have been a fly on that wall - Ghoulz). (Many thanks to Ray Smillie for the above).
[All images courtesy of Martin Robb (Manager) unless otherwise stated]
Various views from 'Disco & Club Trade International' magazine (1988)
'Hit Man & Her' and Disco Mirror award 'Scotland's Disco of the Year 1990'
The signs North & East advertise that the building is 'For Sale' and the 'T in the Park' posters help to date this shot as some time between 1994 - 1998.
Aerial view of the ballroom (early 1990s) showing how the present building incorporates the original one.
The frontage of 'The Ballroom' on Carnegie Drive (c.2000).
'The Ballroom' logo
The frontage of 'The Ballroom' on Carnegie Drive at night (c.2000).
The Ballroom's VIP lounge
A Selection of The Ballroom Passes for The Millennium Club 2000 Left Top Penny Pass (Entry for one on specified night of specified month for 1p)
Shots of the 2005 rip-out of 'The Ballroom' prior to the £2 million refurb
The second (much improved) frontage/entrance of 'The Ballroom' on Carnegie Drive (10/02/2006).
A view of the dance floor of 'The Ballroom' (circa 2006).
The Dunfermline Press publicity for the launch of 'KinemaGigz'. "How to avoid doing the housework"
"68 years of entertainment in one site..." In fact this article contains a slight error. My father was a cinema manager who through a long career managed 'The Regal' (High Street - now demolished), 'The Alhambra' (Canmore Street - now being refurbished) and 'The Cinema' (now a vacant nightclub/pub). He never managed 'The Palace Kinema' cinema (now demolished) nor 'The Kinema Ballroom'.
"On The Spot"
The Dunfermline Press 'Bygone Dunfermline' publicity for the launch of KinemaGigz.com. "Nitespot still notching up hits"
The 2007 refurbishment by Castle Leisure Group
Many more images coming after the opening night!
Menu of forthcoming attractions at Velocity & Kinema:Live (Click each image for details)
My Velocity Launch Weekend VIP Invitation (Friday 14th & Saturday 15th December 2007)
Velocity opening weekend (Friday 14th & Saturday 15th December 2007)
Velocity & Kinema Logos
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