Lighting up the sky for 71 lives tragically lost
Lantern walk to mark 90 years since cinema disaster
The 90th anniversary of Paisley’s worst tragedy is to be marked by a procession and service this December.
The Glen Cinema Disaster happened on New Year’s Eve 1929, with more than 70 children losing their lives.
Known as Paisley’s Black Hogmanay, it is remembered at the town’s war memorial every December 31.
This year, there will be a special event to mark the significant anniversary.
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council, said: “To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Glen Cinema tragedy, a lantern procession will take place through the town on Saturday, December 7, followed by a service at Paisley Abbey.
“December 7 was selected to enable the event to take place in the month of the 90th anniversary and allow community groups and primary and secondary pupils to participate, in addition to the annual commemoration which will take place at the cenotaph in the town centre on December 31.”
The procession will start from County Square and make its way up Gilmour Street, along the High Street and into Abbey Close for the service.
It is expected a reception will take place afterwards.
On New Year’s Eve in 1929, more than 1,000 children gathered at the popular Glen Cinema to enjoy a matinee of cowboy film Desperado Dude.
But 71 of those children perished. They died when a smoking reel of film led to panic and a stampede towards the exit doors, which were locked.
A public inquiry into the disaster heard that the smoke was caused by an assistant projectionist laying a reel of film on top of an accumulator battery.
Later, the official reporter, Major TH Crozier, found that the blocking of exits, overcrowding and lack of attendants had all played a part in the disaster.
The tragedy is marked every year with a wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial, just yards from where the cinema stood.
This annual event, which is normally attended by survivors and their families and civic dignitaries, will continue after the 90th anniversary event.
Full details of the December 7 event will be announced nearer the time.
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