When Houdini played the Hippodrome on Hallcraig Street in Airdrie,  in 1913, thousands of people were unable to get tickets, so he put on an extra show for free out front. A crowd of 7,000 watched him being chained and handcuffed by the local police sergeant on the front steps of the theatre. Officials tried keeping him in “a variety of sacks and crates” too, but he kept getting loose.

Finally the Water Torture Chamber was wheeled into sight and the fire brigade filled it up. Harry had little problem escaping from that as well, naturally, but no one in the throng was complaining.

It was originally built as a Corn Exchange in 1856 but was converted and opened in 1908 by Airdrie Hippodrome Company as a Theatre with a capacity of 1000 people.

Renamed Rialto for cine-variety in 1929.  Owned by Crescent Cinema Company (Frutin's) for many years. Was Bingo hall from 1962-2007.

June 2011- The building has been empty for a few years and is now subject to a Planning Application - Partial Demolition of Building Containing Former Bingo Hall (Listed Building) and Redevelopment of the Remaining Section of Building and Site for Residential and Mixed Use Development (Including the Change of Use to Form 4 Retail, Office and Food/ Drink Units on the Ground Floor with 5 Residential Flats on the First Floor plus the Construction of a New Residential Block (Containing 18 Flats) with Associated Parking and Landscaping.

See letter

La Scala / Coliseum
Hallcraig Street

Opened in 1906 by J.J. Bennell in the former Public Hall.
Sold to the Pennycook circuit and renamed in 1928. Robert Dalziel and his brother James were manager and projectionist.
Destroyed by fire in 1957 and demolished.
The space is now occupied by an undertaker

Bennell's name will always be associated with the famous 'BB Pictures' (Bright and Beautiful). He originated from Manchester, becoming a travelling salesman for Sidney Carter's Pictures during the early 1900s, before deciding to enter into business on his own, choosing Scotland as his base. On the 23rd December 1907 Bennell opened Wellington Palace, Commercial Road, Glasgow as his first exhibition of Animated Pictures, and BB Pictures was launched.

A hallmark of the BB's were his special sound effects from behind the screen, such as the use of car horns and coconut. He also read out dialogue from the side of the screen for the benefit of the audience. BB Pictures was soon to be hailed as a Glasgow favourite especially amongst children. Bennell extended his number of premises to include the Gaiety Theatre at Anderston Cross, Glasgow, the Palace and the Empire in Dundee, all in 1909 and later to Edinburgh, Airdrie, Perth and Greenock. His programmes, which he chose himself, were associated with quality, and film such as The Rent Collector and If Women Were Policemen were shown with additional explanatory notes by Bennell. He was also known for providing a good deal of variety to the shows he offered.

He was considered to have been one of the great initiators of the Saturday Matinee which attracted audiences of 2-3000 to his afternoon shows at Wellington Palace. The children's performances began with singing the BB Pictures song:

"BB Pictures, they're alright
Come and see them every night
We will sing with all our might
BB Pictures they're alright".

Courtesy of Scottish screen archives

Pavilion / Classic
Graham St

 

Opened in 1911 in old skating rink. Demolished after fire, 1917.
Rebuilt, 1919. Sold by Singleton's to Odeon, 1936.
Sold to Classic and renamed in  1967. Closed in 1970. Demolished in 1973 for redevelopment.

Image courtesy of the Cinema Theatre Association Archive (Tony Moss Collection)

New Cinema
Broomknoll Street

 

built C1920. Arch. Jas Davidson. Renovated, 1938. Rear extension for Cinemascope, 1955. Dem. for new road, 1980. Airdrie's biggest cinema - seats for 1328.

Image courtesy of the Cinema Theatre Association Archive (Tony Moss Collection)