The Broadway Cinema – Looking East

Broadway Cinema

Broadway Cinema, Birrel’s confectionery, Templeton’s, Biggin’s Dentist, Callaghan Drapery. The large building that can be seen in the horizon is the Stonefield Parish Church.

Monday 18th September 1939 by the Blantyre Picture House Company. It got off to a shaky start as World War II had broken out just 15 days before and limited what films were shown. News reels were popular in the immediate years.

When the Broadway Cinema opened in September 1939, there were small iron railings around the corner of Glasgow Road and Station Road, protecting public from traffic, just as in the above photo. However, as with most iron railings all over the UK, they were cut and removed for the war effort. Sadly, this had a devastating outcome for a Blantyre family. In 1946, after a Matinee, the children swarmed out into the daylight, and a little girl named Netta Valerio, sister of Velma (whose father was Mickey of Mickey’s Cafe) was killed at the corner of Glasgow Road and Station Road. My friend, the late Jimmy Cornfield recalled that the family shortly afterwards paid for railings to be reinstated at the corner.

The Broadway was owned and operated by Jack Brown, cinema and theatre manager-promoter; born Millport, November 28, 1909, died Hamilton, February 11, 1997.

Glasgow Road Today

Sadly, the building was damaged by fire in the early 70s and instead of being turned into a Bingo Hall, the Broadway was demolished and a modern two storey building for Blantyre’s Housing department built upon its site. The building is now the home of Blantyre Credit Union.

Linda Halpin: Was the dentist not there as well, Hugh Biggins, he did a gold crown on my back tooth, and its still there after all these years!

Linda Halpin: Was the dentists not there as well, Hugh Biggins, he did a gold crown on my back tooth, and its still there after all these years..!!

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If you have any Photos… Send them to Bill

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