A Glasgow tram passes the Seamore
Words by Ruairi Hawthorne
As a fan of movies and their history I’ve decided to regale you with the unsung tales of Maryhill’s relationship with film – and I hope that after reading this post you are filled with a newfound curiosity for both cinema and this endlessly fascinating town.
There have been a number of cinemas in Maryhill over the years so I should probably start with the oldest and in a sense still up and running Seamore Neighbourhood Cinema, formerly known as the Seamore Picture House.
The Seamore Picture House opened in 1914 during films infancy. "A Trip to the Moon" had capped things off in 1902 and is now considered to be the first example of science fiction in cinema and is arguably the first true feature film. This was followed by other classics of the silent era such as the "The Great Train Robbery" – the original western, which was released the following year – and, in Thomas Edison’s foray into the still uncharted territory of film, 1910s "Frankenstein", which as well as being one of the first horror films is also the first of a horde of adaptations of Mary Shelley's classic novel.
A programme and view of the seamore.
Credit: Oldglasgow.com
The Seamore opened on Maryhill Road in December 1914 just as things in the world of cinema where beginning to ramp up and was described as "The Greatest Achievement in Popular Entertainment" on its opening night. It was designed by GA Boswell and RA Thomas for flamboyant businessman AE Pickard.
His eccentric nature was reflected in the buildings odd design as its ceiling was adorned with nude paintings and later a large, revolving windmill on the roof. If was advertised with the slogan "See more at the Seamore", and it lived up to its name; playing films to the adoring public from its opening to 1935 (when it was bought by a new owner), starting with a screening of the comedy "Mabel's Married Life", starring Mabel Normand and Charlie Chaplin.
Like all films shown at the Seamore the ticket came with a stipulation that the patrons remove their hats when they entered. Despite his eccentricities Pickard was also a man of tradition as even when film marched into the era of sound (many would call them talkies for years to come) he would insist that only the silent classics be played. Although, he made up for his shunning of the advancement of cinema by having his employees put on song and dance routines before screenings, truly a unique experience.
However, despite some resistance, the venue was bought by a new owner who was more than willing to purge the place of Pickard’s own brand of strangeness as he was soon providing audiences the once forbidden "talkies" and removed both the buildings signatures, the nude paintings and the windmill. Now more willing to embrace the future of the silver screen, in 1953 the cinema was the first in the Maryhill area to be modified for CinemaScope, a new type of lense that could shoot movies in wide-screen. By this time the appeal of movie theatres was dwindling as television was making its mark and CinemaScope was created so that places like the Seamore could draw people back in. While CinemaScope did help rejuvenate the world of cinema at large, it was only a temporary boon for the Seamore as it was closed in 1963 due to low attendance and was tragically destroyed in a fire in 1968.
However, this story does have a happy ending as the Seamore lives on through it's successor "The Seamore Neighborhood Cinema", managed by Ross Hunter and a passionate team of volunteers. It is situated in the Community Central Halls and screens films every Friday and Saturday, aiming to cater to people from all walks of life but especially ones who cannot afford to make regular visits to the bigger chains.
The new Seamore cinema is hosted just down the road at Community Central Halls Credit: CCH/Facebook
They wear the name "Seamore" with pride and they endeavour to keep the place as accessible as possible, making film a luxurious escape from reality that anyone can immerse themselves in. They have achieved this by implementing many family offers to keep things affordable and, most impressive of all, they have outreach programs. These involve bringing portable cinema equipment to those who have limited mobility in a space that they feel comfortable in, a truly innovative process that lives up to its predecessor legacy of innovation.