Hopes of new lease of life for Scotland’s oldest family-run cinema as £45,000 raised to save it in less than a week
S cotland's oldest family-run cinema could be brought back from the brink of closure - after nearly £45,000 was raised to save it in less than a week.
The Dominion Cinema i n Edinburgh’s Morningside has been owned by Lesley Cameron's family for 82 years and is one of only two family-operated cinemas in Scotland.
The historic picture house, which was built by her grandfather William Cameron 1938, has been closed for the last seven months.
It is only the second time in its long history that it has been shut - the first in S eptember 1939, when there were fears over air raids at the star t of World War Two.
Lesley, who co-owns the cinema with her brother Alistair and Michael, said spiralling operating costs, which total £20,000 a month, have put the cinema's future in doubt.
She launched a fundraiser last Friday in a desperate bid to raise £60,000 to save the cinema and has b een over - whelmed by the response.
They are also selling off the cinema's prized collection of classic movie posters, including The Dirty Dozen, Vanishing Point and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial which are expected to attract bids from collectors around the world. Hollywood stars including Dame Judi Dench, Jude Law and Sir Billy Connolly have visited the Dominion over the years.
Lesley said: "It's been nonstop. We're sitting at nearly £45,000 in just six days.
"Crowd fund er came back to ask what we did but it's just people being incredible and responding in an emergency situation.
"The response has been overwhelming.
"All the overhead costs are £20,000 a month.
"It became incredibly difficult for us to get a date and open for patrons because the footfall and appetite for classic films isn't great.
"When Bond got pushed back again and places like Cineworld temporarily closed we thought there was no point reopening.
"At this point we don't know what the government guide - lines are going to be.
"We're just sitting and seeing what we can do to tide us over to next year and hope it's a better year for everybody."
Anyone wishing to donate can do so by visiting https:// www.crowdfunder.co.uk/support-your-dominion-cinema