The golden age of cinema

A piece of Dundee’s rich cinema history is vividly recalled via today’s photos.

Showing the disused Grand Theatre at 22 King Street, Broughty Ferry, both photos were taken in 1964 by Professor GH Bell and have been supplied by Kenneth Baxter, from Dundee University’s archive services.

He writes: “Under the ownership of Joe Bell, the Grand opened on March 31 1913 to show films and as a venue for variety shows.

“In 1931 it was acquired by Mrs Agnes Shand and her daughter Carrie who owned Shand’s Picture House in Shepherd’s Loan, Dundee, later Grays.

“In the days of silent films Carrie Shand had been highly regarded for her piano playing to accompany the on-screen action. At this point the Grand was renamed Shands of Bro’ty and given a makeover.

“The new name did not seem to take off and it was quickly referred to in the Press as the Grand (Shand’s). In 1934 it became known as the New Grand Picture House and by around the same time had passed to the ownership of Robert Smith.

“It was put up for sale as a going concern in March 1937, but it initially failed to find a buyer. Later that year there were proposals to turn it into an ice rink, supported by its owner Lanyon S Scott.

“Ultimately these came to nothing and it continued as a cinema for a few more years, before closing around 1940. By the 1950s it was being used as a warehouse.

“As one photo shows, despite being closed for 25 years the prices were still very visible!”

The ex-cinema premises were demolished in the mid-’60s, with housing nowadays standing on the Grand’s old King Street site.