Curved walls, projecting fins and chevron glazing preserve the optimistic modern face of Johnstone’s late-1930s cinema.
Quick facts
- Date
- Opened 1939–40; converted to bingo in 1964
- Architect / designer
- Lennox and MacMath
- Type
- Streamlined Art Deco cinema
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB51168)
- OS grid reference
- NS 43040 63120
Architecture and continuing use
A broad curved corner entrance is sheltered by a cantilevered canopy and divided above by five vertical fins. Chevron-pattern glazing, generous picture windows and a rounded shopfront create a streamlined street composition. Inside, the proscenium, balcony and much Art Deco decoration survive despite the removal of cinema seating.
Its story
Lennox and MacMath designed the Globe, which opened around 1939–40 after the town council asked for a consciously modern appearance and a setback for possible road widening. It became a bingo hall in 1964, preserving the auditorium through a new form of communal entertainment.
Why it is included
Category C listing recognises a notably intact small-town Art Deco cinema whose conversion extends rather than erases its social history.
What to notice
- Chevron glazing between the tall entrance fins.
- The curved canopy and rounded corner shopfront.
- The contrast between the painted street façade and the auditorium mass behind.
Reading the surroundings
The exterior can be seen from public pavements. Interior access depends on the operator’s opening, admission and age rules; do not enter service areas or photograph patrons without consent.
Timeline
- 1940 The Globe opened as Johnstone’s modern streamlined cinema.
- 1964 The auditorium was adapted for bingo, with major decorative features retained.
- 2008 A national cinema study led to statutory listing.
- 2026 The venue continues to advertise bingo sessions.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Commercial schedules can change quickly. The current operator or venue listing should be checked before travel, and the completeness of inaccessible interior fabric is not reasserted here.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: New Globe Bingo, Former Globe Cinema, LB51168 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB51168 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- Bingotastic: Globe Bingo Johnstone — Current venue identity, address and operating-session information, updated in 2026.
Location
OS grid reference NS 43040 63120 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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