Some Edinburgh locals might recall it as The Classic, while others affectionately refer to it as Empire Bingo or even La Scala (nicknamed ‘Scabby Lala’) – but one thing’s for sure, the place was brimming with character.
Nestled on Nicholson Street, the venue was once notorious for its ‘seen better days’ interior and risqué screenings.
That all changed when the cinema was transformed into a bingo hall in the 1980s, offering a markedly different atmosphere.
Originally opening its doors as The Royal Princess Theatre in 1875, the establishment only operated under that name for a decade before the Salvation Army took over. By 1912, it had morphed into La Scala, a silent movie house, as noted by Canmore, and continued as such until the late 1940s.
The building remained a cinema until its reincarnation as the Empire Bingo Hall, yet many of its original architectural elements are still intact today. A 2019 Canmore survey revealed that decorative features from the late 19th century, dating back to the Royal Princess Theatre days, have been preserved.
They remarked: “The results also confirm that the building has been modified to suit the transition from a small vaudeville theatre to an Edwardian and mid-20th century cinema.
“At some point, probably in the 1950s, alterations to the balcony seating may have required additional support, resulting in the introduction of load-bearing raker beams. More modern conversions (fire exits and kitchen appliances) relate to its use as a bingo hall.”
Despite its ornate features, many Edinburgh locals remember the spot for the purpose it served in the early ’80s. Eager to catch a glimpse of the “dirty movies”, many young men would sneak in through the fire exit.
Cinema Treasures notes on their site: “The La Scala Electric Theatre was opened on 31st December 1912 on the site of an earlier New Royal Alhambra Theatre (1862).
“Ralph Pringle the proprietor put on occasional variety turns. The projection box was located at the rear of the stalls seating area, under the balcony. In the 1930’s the cinema passed to the Peter Crerer circuit.
“However, I remember it as the Classic Cinema, which it became on 27th April 1974. By then the balcony had closed reducing capacity to 294, and it screened adult films. It became a bingo hall in the mid-1980’s, operated by Premier Empire Bingo.”
Mercat Tours shed light on the story behind a local eyesore, stating: “Locals will be familiar with the tired façade of a defunct bingo hall just beyond South Bridge, and older residents might still remember it as a less than glamorous cinema. ” T
hey provided insights into its past, noting that: “La Scala opened in 1912 and provided films interspersed with variety acts known as ‘lantern coolers’ as they allowed time for the film equipment to cool between shows. It was never the height of luxury, and became known as ‘The Scabby Lala’ for its down-at-heel surroundings.”
The firm gave a cheeky nod to its later years, saying, “In 1974 it rebranded as the Classic Cinema, and showed what Mercat Meg would politely refer to as, ‘films of a grown up nature’! It now lies empty, hopefully to receive the makeover it has long deserved.”
The building later served as a bingo hall
(Image: Scott McCutcheon)
The building served as a cinema for many years before becoming a bingo hall
(Image: Scott McCutcheon)