30 - The Scala Cinema (featuring Jah Wobble, Stewart Lee, Caroline Catz & Richard Norris) with Jane Giles & Ali Catterall (Kings Cross)

Featuring exclusive clips from Jah Wobble, Stewart Lee, Caroline Catz & Richard Norris sharing their memories of the Scala Cinema - documentary makers Jane Giles & Ali Catterall join us to share the history of the cinema from its original Soho location & its 2nd home in Kings Cross in London.

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The first cinema was built on the site of the Scala Theatre which featured extensively in The Beatles' feature film debut A Hard Days Night in 1964. This original Soho location opened as a cinema in 1976 originally known as The Other Cinema, becoming the Scala in the summer of 1978.

The cinema soon gained a reputation for its eclectic programming & diverse clientele. The Scala also put on gigs including Throbbing Gristle, Spandau Ballet,

The Slits, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column & New Order.

The Scala relocated to Kings Cross in 1981 but the new location had a musical history of its own having played host to gigs from Hawkwind, Soft Machine, Flamin’ Groovies, Mott the Hoople, Status Quo, Viv Stanshall, Lou Reed (the cover for Transformer was taken here) & Iggy & The Stooges (the Raw Power cover was also taken at the Scala at their only UK gig).

At the new location the Scala's legendary all nighters soon became infamous & were attend by the likes of Ian Curtis, Shane McGowan & more.

The Scala closed its doors in 1993 in the wake of the lease for the building reaching an end & a controversial screening of A Clockwork Orange.

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You can watch the Scala documentary on BFI Player: https://player.bfi.org.uk

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