How amazing to think these photos are now 102 years old! These wounded soldiers, recovering from WW1 battles, stand on Glasgow Road outside the Dookit Cinema, awaiting to go in. Some stand supported by walking sticks, others even manage a smile for the camera. The man on the left with his hand in pockets […]
Although there is evidence of “magic lantern” shows being held in Blantyre at Dixon’s Halls at Stonefield prior to 1900, Blantyre is known to have had seven proper cinemas, with only one still functional or present. Here are some little snippets taken from my forthcoming book. Full details on each cinema is available upon […]
The Daisy Brown Dance School, was run by Mrs Brown of Glasgow Road in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950’s. Mrs Brown was part of an enterprising couple who also owned the Dookit Cinema next door to the east side of their dance school. Daisy and her husband Jack Brown, who was the manager […]
Two bowling alleys were known to exist. One at High Blantyre, which was located next to the old Kirkyard, and another more well known at Glasgow Road. When the Blantyre Picture House (The Dookit) at Glasgow Road closed, two local men, Mr. Ian Liddell and Mr. William Paul, converted the property and opened it […]
The Blantyre Picture Theatre was constructed in 1913 on Glasgow Road near the corner of Alpine Street. It was the first cinema in the area to show reels of film and proved an instant hit with the entire population, young and old alike. Built by EH Bostok, It proved an important local role in the […]