The Coliseum is a large Flemish-style music hall, opened in 1905 and designed by the renowned theatre architect, Frank Matcham. It is noted for its octagonal red sandstone tower, topped by a domed cupola, once enclosing a revolving ‘Coliseum’ sign.

Seating 2,700 it held variety shows and pantomimes. In 1925 it became a cinema and in 1929 it showed the first ‘talkie’ in Glasgow, The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson.

Closed in 1980 in preparation for its removal to allow for the south flank of the city’s inner ring road (which never happened), it still stands today as a bingo hall.

Picture: The Coliseum

The New Bedford was quickly built in nine months in Art Deco style to replace the original fire-damaged Bedford Cinema. Run as a cinema for many years by Green’s, it became another bingo hall but is now closed.

Picture: The New Bedford Cinema