In August 1895, Thomas Edison debuted his ‘Kinetophone’ on Market Street. It was a single-viewer peep show device connected to a phonograph, and it represented not only the first appearance of the moving image within St Andrews, but also the first appearance of what we might understand today as ‘sound film’ within the UK.
Since that day, moving images have been exhibited in a variety of spaces – from travelling shows to church halls to the New Picture House. In this section, we examine the shifting histories, geographies and practices of film exhibition in St Andrews.
A Pilgrim Town: The Mix of Old and New on North Street
Over the last century North Street has become the home to two cinemas and, more recently, a Department of Film Studies. The presence of these modern cinemas within this ancient religious and educational centre has greatly shaped how cinema has been perceived and enjoyed within St Andrews.
read moreRemembering La Scala Today
In 2003, St Andrews' first fixed-site of film exhibition, 'The Tin Tabernacle', was demolished.
read moreClosure of The Cinema House
The Cinema House closes in December, after 66 years of film exhibition in St Andrews.
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La Scala moves
The Roman Catholic church on The Scores is moved to James Street, where it would be used as a skating rink and as the first 'fixed' cinema in St Andrews (renamed La Scala in 1913).
read moreKinetophone comes to St Andrews
Film comes to St Andrews as part of the ‘Grand Fancy Bazaar’ in August. Among the attractions are Edison’s Kinetophone, which was reported to be making its UK debut at the event.
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