The Whole Story of The Famous Kinema Ballroom in Dunfermline (now in its 78th Year!)
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| Pix & Vidz (Click images for a larger size) These images are listed roughly in chronological order, oldest first. The Kinema Ballroom (Pix of individual bands will be found on their own 'Biogz' page).
An interior view of "Dunfermline's New Ballroom" in 1938.
Opening Night Advert
Opening night autograph hunters surround bandleader, Mr Jack Jackson.
Mr. George Gilchrist Hylands, the first Kinema Ballroom Manager and manager of the adjacent cinema 'The Palace Kinema'.
He managed The Kinema Ballroom from its opening night on 23rd December 1938 until early April 1946 when he was taken to a Dunfermline Nursing Home and sadly died two weeks later on Saturday April 20th 1946. He was originally an Edinburgh man and had been a successful music hall variety artiste before entering the world of entertainment management. He was manager of The Palace Kinema (Cinema next door) from 1933 and from 1938 until his death in 1946, managed both The Palace Kinema and The Kinema Ballroom. His second wife was Evelyn aka Lena Grant (Cherry Grant's sister) George Hylands was succeeded as manager at The Palace Kinema and The Kinema Ballroom by his son Mr. George Gilchrist and was still there in 1963. Another son Mr. Norman Gilchrist also worked a s a projectionist at The Palace Kinema. Norman met his wife in the Kinema Ballroom. Many thanks to David Gilchrist (Norman's son) for much of the above.
The original 'Kinema Ballroom's main entrance at No.19 Pilmuir Street around 1955.
The original 'Kinema Ballroom's main entrance at No.19 Pilmuir Street (10/02/2006). This was also the entrance for events held in 'The Starlight Lounge' after the new frontage on Carnegie Street/Drive was complete in 1964. This entrance is now only used for deliveries to the ballroom & adjacent bar.
A journey through the original entrance to the original Kinema building.
1 The original 'Kinema Ballroom' main entrance at No.19 Pilmuir Street (1955) ... and out again at the end of the night.
5 The daunting journey down the stairs commences!
'Kinema Ballroom' revellers in the 1940s.
Built in 1938 and still part of the ballroom today, the original 'Kinema Ballroom' building taken from the south (10/02/2006).
Kinema staff possibly 1963 / 1965?
'The Kinema Ballroom' mid to late 1960s? This extension to the original premises was built in 1964.
Aerial view of the ballroom showing how the original building from 1938 was extended in 1964.
Cecil R Hunter 'Mr. Kinema Ballroom' was Manager 1963 - 1973 Born in West Hartlepool (a trumpet, cornet & double bass player) Cecil died on the 16th of April 1993 in the Clubhouse of Canmore Golf Course Dunfermline aged 85. The story of Cecil, the ballroom & The Beatles in 1963 can be found here
A 'Grand Beat Competition' was held on Thursday 29th June 1967 adjudicated by David Jacobs (presenter of the hugely popular TV show 'Juke Box Jury'). Ten groups played for the East of Scotland heat, 8pm till 1am for the admission price of 6/- 1st - The Falcons Who were the other groups? Tell me here.
The Kinema Ballroom 1970s?
The Kinema Ballroom with The Clash's Lorry & Van Outside on Thursday 6th July 1978
The cancelled Siouxsie & The Banshees gig from 9th September 1979.
Siouxsie & The Banshees & The Scars were billed to appear on Sunday 9th September 1979 as part of the 'Join Hands Tour', however the gig was cancelled (tickets were advertised and sold for £2). The night before, Kenny Morris and John McKay walked out of the band prior to that evening's gig in Aberdeen. They hopped into a taxi, went to Stonehaven, then got the first available train to London. Despite that, the Aberdeen gig went ahead, but the Banshees only played a couple of songs, accompanied by Robert Smith and The Cure's drummer. This led to the cancellation of the ballroom gig and the next couple of dates too, but the rest of the tour went on with Robert Smith playing for both The Cure and The Banshees, with Budgie taking over the drumming duties. (Nearly 20 years later, Siouxsie and Budgie were in a remote hotel in the Lake District, when they went down for an evening meal on their first night there and who should be sitting at the next table but John McKay and his wife! This was the first time they had met since McKay and Morris went AWOL in 1979...! (Oh to have been a fly on that wall - Ghoulz). (Many thanks to Ray Smillie for the above).
Night Magic Advert 1980
Bacchus Advert 1980
Night Magic Coaster
Many Thanks to Tam Cairns
Night Magic Pin Badge
Many Thanks to Murray Duncan
Night Magic Calendar 1984
Night Magic advert from 1985
Various Night Magic DJs etc
[All images courtesy of Martin Robb (Manager) unless otherwise stated]
Various views from 'Disco & Club Trade International' magazine (1988) etc.
'Hit Man & Her' and Disco Mirror award 'Scotland's Disco of the Year 1990'
Footage of the 2nd of six 'Hitman & Her' TV Shows
Footage (poor quality unfortunately) of the fifth of six 'Hitman & Her' TV Shows
Footage (poor quality unfortunately) of the sixth and last 'Hitman & Her' TV Shows
Also ... link to footage of Mr.Puniverse competition at Hollywood Boulevard 1989 for 'The Hit Man & Her' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-F-1-MARGE
The signs North & East advertise that the building is 'For Sale' and the 'T in the Park' posters help to date this shot below as some time between 1994 - 1998.
The frontage of 'The Ballroom' on Carnegie Drive (c.2000).
'The Ballroom' logo
The frontage of 'The Ballroom' on Carnegie Drive at night (c.2000).
The Ballroom's VIP lounge
The Millennium Club 2000 Pass Wallet
The Ballroom Gold Pass
Many Thanks to Murray Duncan
A Selection of The Ballroom Passes for The Millennium Club 2000 Left Top Penny Pass (Entry for one on specified night of specified month for 1p)
Shots of the 2005 rip-out of 'The Ballroom' prior to the £2 million refurb
The second (much improved) frontage/entrance of 'The Ballroom' on Carnegie Drive (10/02/2006).
A view of the dance floor of 'The Ballroom' (circa 2006).
The Dunfermline Press publicity for the launch of 'KinemaGigz'. "How to avoid doing the housework"
"68 years of entertainment in one site..." In fact this article contains a slight error. My father was a cinema manager who through a long career managed 'The Regal' (High Street - now demolished), 'The Alhambra' (Canmore Street - now being refurbished) and 'The Cinema' (now a vacant nightclub/pub). He never managed 'The Palace Kinema' cinema (now demolished) nor 'The Kinema Ballroom'.
"On The Spot"
The Dunfermline Press 'Bygone Dunfermline' publicity for the launch of KinemaGigz.com. "Nitespot still notching up hits"
The 2007 refurbishment by Castle Leisure Group
Menu of forthcoming attractions at Velocity & Kinema:Live (Click each image for details)
My Velocity Launch Weekend VIP Invitation (Friday 14th & Saturday 15th December 2007)
Velocity opening weekend (Friday 14th & Saturday 15th December 2007)
Velocity & Kinema Logos
After a short period of inactivity, sadly CLG placed Velocity on the market for Let or Sale on Wednesday 4th May 2011 after (just short) of four years ownership.
... and after a short period of activity under the management of D2 Leisure the venue is TO LET / MAY SELL again in 2012.
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