Historic cinema saved for future

The Cameo cinema has been listed by Historic Scotland

A historic Edinburgh cinema has been safeguarded for future generations after a 10-month struggle.

The Cameo cinema faced the threat of redevelopment but Historic Scotland has now listed the cinema.

Experts said the preservation of the site was triggered by the importance of the venue's fine Edwardian interior.

The cinema itself is located within a tenement block with the auditorium filling part of the building's back court.

Gordon Barr of the Cinema Theatre Association has been campaigning to save the cinema. He said: "The Cameo is a rarity both in terms of Scottish architecture, and nationwide.

This back-court type cinema used to be a typical feature of Scottish towns between the wars but now has all but disappeared Gordon Barr Cinema Theatre Association

"It is one of only two cinemas in Scotland from this period still operating, and the only one with its original interior decoration intact.

"The cinema was built into the courtyard of the surrounding tenement block with its entrance through the shop façade from the street.

"This back-court type cinema used to be a typical feature of Scottish towns between the wars but now has all but disappeared."

The auditorium has survived virtually unchanged since it was built more than ninety years ago in 1914.

This architectural gem with its Italian Renaissance interior could originally accommodate an audience of 673.