We use cookies to improve your experience, some are essential for the operation of this site.
About the cookies we use
Accept
Search
Help
Quick Search
Quick Search
Search
Search
Home
Advanced Search
Browse All Images
Images By Category
Images By Place
Online Exhibitions
Search History
Selections (0)
Related Links
Local Studies
Online Library Resources
Help
About The Collections
Help With Searching
Ordering Images
Terms & Conditions
Contact Us
My Account
Log In
TaggedItemsMenu1
Untag All Items
Aberdeen Cinemas: News Cinema / Curzon / Cosmo 2
You searched for:
More Like: 'Chip off the old block'
Hide Highlights
0
of
0
highlighted terms
Prev
Next
No highlightable terms
Item
of 23
Aberdeen Cinemas: News Cinema / Curzon / Cosmo 2
Historic Photographs
David Oswald
This item is active and ready to use
Select
Comment
Magnify
Historic Photographs
Record Number
3427
Title
Aberdeen Cinemas: News Cinema / Curzon / Cosmo 2
Description
An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Cosmo 2 at 15 Diamond Street in 1977. The Cosmo 2 was on the site of Aberdeen's News Cinema that had opened 1936. In 1959 it had become the Curzon. In 1963 the Curzon was sold to Singleton Cinemas, a Glasgow based cinema operating firm that had been in the business since 1911. The venue was renovated and re-opened on 22nd January 1964 as the Cosmo 2. The Cosmo 1 was the former King's cinema in Glasgow, owned by Singleton Cinemas, that is now the Glasgow Film Theatre. The inaugural film at the Cosmo 2 was the Italian film <I>Il Posto</i> directed by Ermanno Olmi. The Cosmo 2 showed quality British and foreign films that might not have been shown at other cinemas. Michael Thomson likened this valuable role to that of the old La Scala long before. It could also be likened to the role of the Belmont in more recent times. The Cosmo 2 sadly closed down in August 1977. The closure was credited to a dearth of attractive foreign language films coupled with the now tripled major circuit venues taking a wider range of pictures. There was much discussion if the venue could be carried on by another party with the Scottish Film Council suggested as a possibility. The smallness of the cinema made this unfeasible however as a Scottish Film Council venue would need adequate meeting and social space. There were subsequent plans to convert the premises into a restaurant though these came to nothing. The fate of the cinema was sealed in September 1981 when the next-door Palais, then operating as Satchmo's disco club, was destroyed by a serious fire and the site was left roofless. The corner block towards Union Street survives but the rest of the buildings were later demolished and are now the site of a car park. [Information primarily sourced from <i>Silver Screen in the Silver City</i> (1988) by Michael Thomson] Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd.
An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Cosmo 2 at 15 Diamond Street in 1977.
The Cosmo 2 was on the site of Aberdeen's News Cinema that had opened 1936. In 1959 it had become the Curzon. In 1963 the Curzon was sold to Singleton Cinemas, a Glasgow based cinema operating firm that had been in the business since 1911.
The venue was renovated and re-opened on 22nd January 1964 as the Cosmo 2. The Cosmo 1 was the former King's cinema in Glasgow, owned by Singleton Cinemas, that is now the Glasgow Film Theatre. The inaugural film at the Cosmo 2 was the Italian film
Il Posto
directed by Ermanno Olmi.
The Cosmo 2 showed quality British and foreign films that might not have been shown at other cinemas. Michael Thomson likened this valuable role to that of the old La Scala long before. It could also be likened to the role of the Belmont in more recent times.
The Cosmo 2 sadly closed down in August 1977. The closure was credited to a dearth of attractive foreign language films coupled with the now tripled major circuit venues taking a wider range of pictures.
There was much discussion if the venue could be carried on by another party with the Scottish Film Council suggested as a possibility. The smallness of the cinema made this unfeasible however as a Scottish Film Council venue would need adequate meeting and social space.
There were subsequent plans to convert the premises into a restaurant though these came to nothing. The fate of the cinema was sealed in September 1981 when the next-door Palais, then operating as Satchmo's disco club, was destroyed by a serious fire and the site was left roofless. The corner block towards Union Street survives but the rest of the buildings were later demolished and are now the site of a car park.
[Information primarily sourced from
Silver Screen in the Silver City
(1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd.
Location
Diamond Street
Keyword
Cinemas
Photographer
Copyright Status
1. Copyright known - held by Aberdeen City Council
2. Copyright known - held by third party
3. Copyright status undetermined
2. Copyright known - held by third party
Image Reference
Cosmo 1977-08-01 (C)AJL
Collection
Aberdeen Local Studies
Your Comments
Magnifier?
Yes
No
Yes
For Sale?
Yes
No
No
Subjects
Subjects
>
Buildings
>
Cinemas
remove
Subjects
>
Places
>
Aberdeen City Centre
remove
Subjects
>
Recreation
remove
Assign Subject
Remove All Subjects
Other Items Like This
Astoria Cinema, Aberdeen
The Astoria Cinema
150 Union Street and Diamond Street
Aberdeen Cinemas: Regal / ABC / Cannon
View all items