Reel Reflections - A Comic History of Cinemas in Inverclyde

A Comic History of Cinemas In Inverclyde

The Reel Reflections project was developed and managed by Inverclyde Community Development Trust with the support of National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Published by Magic Torch Comics CIC / Inverclyde Community Development Trust June 2026.

The publication is not for sale or resale and is exclusively for free distribution. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, except for the purposes of review.

The comic is a blend of conversations, questions and documentary information compiled from various sources, individuals and volunteer researchers. In particular, we would like to thank Vincent Gillan, Margaret Brennan, Ronnie Ahlfeld, Brian McDonald, Pat Doran, Jim Strachan and Graham McColgan. Special thanks to John Cunningham at Greenock Waterfront Cinema. Interviews conducted by Collective Voices and Niall Ptolomey.

Script compiled and written by Paul Bristow.

‘Auld Joe’s Show’ adapted from Old Greenock Characters by John Donald Virtual Reality development by Ian Crighton & Dana.

Artwork ‘Auld Joe’s Show’ & ‘Greenock Waterfront’ by Robin Henley ‘Moving Pictures’ by Chelsea Turner ‘The Kings Theatre Tragedy’ by Brian Rankin ‘Under Fire’ by Jem Milton ‘The Ranch’ & ‘Saturday Morning Club’ by Claire Hubbard ‘Queue Jumpers’ by Tony Pickering ‘Date Night’ by Kyle McInnes ‘The Corner of Your Eye’ by Katherine Hemmings ‘Life in the Cheap Seats’ by Zu Dominiak ‘Night of the Exorcist’ by Craig Munro ‘Behind the Scenes’ & ‘Don’t Look Now’ by Olivia Todd ‘Fade to Black’ by Norrie Millar

Magic Torch Comics do not use AI in any part of the script process and we ask that our artists do not use generative AI in their work.

On the morning of August 6th, 1919, the bodies of Jean Crichton a theatre stall attendant, and her lover, David Gilchrist, an exsoldier in WW1, were discovered in a theatre box by cleaning staff.

Jean was dead, covered by a theatre cloth, and David was alive but unconscious.

Although early reports suggested he might survive, David ultimately died in hospital from his injuries.

A note was found near the scene referencing “the Better Land,” alongside a bottle of laudanum…

…and a revolver taken from the theatre’s dressing room.

Initial suspicions of a possible third party were quickly dismissed…

A second revolver was also missing, but later identified.

….and the owner of the weapon was not believed to have been involved.

The tragedy shocked the community.

Rumours, grief, mystery and morbid curiosity surrounded Jean’s funeral, drawing large crowds.

In later years, there were whispers of hauntings in the theatre, which continued long after it became a cinema...

Most people will tell you that the Central Cinema on West Blackhall Street was known as The Ranch because of the amount of cowboy films shown there.

In fact, the manager didn’t agree with this

We show the same amount as everyone else!

But the story stuck all the same…

You’d tie your horse up outside before going in…

Ask for two saddles rather than two seats…

Then you’d watch the film…

And it was always clear who was the goody or the baddy,…

You’d be out the door right and you'd be hitting your horse and running around the town.

A wee posse of outlaws going along the town…

…all hitting their backside. because of the Westerns.

If your father had to work on a Saturday morning, and your mother had to go shopping…

It was like a creche, a club at the ABC from 9-12.

Mum would put the kids into the minors.

Hardly anybody watched the films. You were normally running about.

It was a riot.

You had to sing the song.

And you got a badge.

Girls usually sat on the one side.

And when the wee woman came over with ice creams…

And all these mad boys, young boys, would be in a running battle.

…you looked about, said who do I no like and papped the cone at them.

It was sometimes Childrens Film Foundation films, all starring children.

The Gaumont caught on to it and did the same thing but cheaper.

Famous Five kind of thing. Some of the actors went on to be big stars.

They were rotten though, you didn't get a badge.

Reel Reflections Behind the Scenes

Pupils from Port Glasgow High School experimented with different ways of telling the story of The King’s Theatre Tragedy

Picture House Heritage In Virtual Reality...

Alongside the comic, the Reel Reflections team explored cinema heritage in other ways. Using a combination of traditional artistic methods and modern digital techniques such as digital modelling and 2D design, the team recreated historical cinema signage and architectural features. Tools including Nomad Sculpt, Sketchfab, Krita Animation, Procreate and Oculus headsets were central to this work.

Many of the archives and vintage photos provide only fragments of how these cinemas once looked. As a result, the content produced is not always an exact reproduction, but instead takes on a stylised and interpretive quality. To bring an interactive dimension to the project, the volunteers developed a VR representation of the Kings Theatre / Odeon. Whilst not fully historically accurate, the immersive experience offered a window into the past, transforming static 2D imagery into a vivid, accessible environment.

One of the project volunteers, Dana, is a young refugee from Ukraine’s Oblast region. Now living in Inverclyde and studying Animation and 3D design at the University of Glasgow, Dana contributed both traditional artwork and digital 3D assets, some of which are displayed on the following pages.

Keep making movie memories.

Support your local cinema.

2-4-1 Mondays Silver Screen Matinees for over 60s Fun Film Club every Saturday Autism Friendly Screenings

www.waterfrontcinema.co.uk 10 Custom House Way, Greenock PA15 1EG

An affectionate wander through some of Inverclyde’s cinema history, sharing memories of favourite films, long gone buildings and tall tales...