Cinema safety talks following tragedy
Safety at Stirling’s cinemas was discussed at a special meeting of Stirling magistrates in January 1930.
It was prompted by the disaster in Paisley when scores of children died and many were injured in a panic following a fire at the town’s Glen Cinema on December 31, 1929.
The fire happened when a film canister caught fire sending smoke billowing into the auditorium which was packed with between 700 and 1000 children watching a cowboy film.
When someone in the audience shouted “Fire!”, there was a stampede towards the exits. Most headed towards a door which tragically, was locked and only opened inwards. In the crush 71 children died or were fatally injured and more than 30 were hurt.
The tragedy, one of the worst in Scotland’s history, was to prompt changes in the law to ensure cinemas had more exits and doors opened outwards.
The Observer, in the days following the disaster, said it had made every town and city `apprehensive for the safety of its cinemas’, although the paper added that picture houses in Stirling were `amply safeguarded’.
Speaking at the meeting with magistrates, Chief Constable Nicol insisted there was no danger in Stirling cinemas in the event of fire.
`Operating boxes’, where the Paisley fire was thought to have started, were fireproof in Stirling cinemas.
Regular visits were made to all places of entertainment in the town and shortly before every performance lighting arrangements at cinemas and musical halls were examined by police.
Regarding exit doors, a recommendation was to be made that they should bear notices indicating how they opened. Magistrates were to examine all Stirling places of entertainment at a later date.