Scala (club) facts for kids
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| Former names | King's Cross Cinema |
|---|---|
| Address | 275 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NL |
| Location | King's Cross, London |
| Type | Nightclub (previously Cinema) |
| Capacity | 1,145 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1920 |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Website | |
| www.scala.co.uk | |
The Scala is a popular place in London, England. It used to be a cinema, but now it's a nightclub and a place for live music. You can find it on Pentonville Road, close to King's Cross railway station.
Contents
History of the Scala
The Scala building was first planned as a cinema by H Courtney Constantine. But World War I stopped the building work. During the war, it was used to make parts for airplanes. After the war, it helped soldiers find jobs. It finally opened as the King's Cross Cinema in 1920.
Over the years, the cinema had different owners and names. For a short time, it was even a place called a primatarium. This was a place where people could watch monkeys.
Famous Concerts and Photos
In the summer of 1972, the Scala was still called the King's Cross Cinema. It hosted the only UK concert by Iggy & The Stooges. They were in London to record their album Raw Power. All the pictures used for the Raw Power album cover were taken during that show. This includes the famous main cover photo. Also, the cover photo for Lou Reed's album Transformer was taken at the Scala that same summer by Mick Rock.
The Scala Film Club
In 1981, a group called the Scala Film Club moved into the building. They wanted to be an alternative to the National Film Theatre. The club got its name from Scala House on Tottenham Street.
However, the Scala got into trouble when it showed the film A Clockwork Orange. This movie was not allowed to be shown in the UK at that time. The company that owned the film, Warner Brothers, sued the Scala. This happened because the film's director, Kubrick, insisted on it. Warner Brothers won the lawsuit. This made the Scala almost go out of business. It closed in 1993.
Reopening as a Music Venue
Luckily, the Scala reopened in 1999. The old cinema was changed to fit its new purpose. The lower seating area became a stage, a DJ booth, and a dancefloor. The upper seating area was turned into a second room with another DJ booth.
Today, the Scala is a busy place for many different club nights. It has also hosted many live music acts. Some famous artists who have played there include Coldplay, Foo Fighters, The Killers, Gorillaz, Moby, Avril Lavigne, Maroon 5, The Script, Melanie C, Bastille, Wolf Alice, Kaiser Chiefs, and P!nk.
Shock Around The Clock Events
In the 1980s, the Scala Cinema was well-known for its "Shock Around The Clock" events. These were all-night horror movie marathons. They showed films like The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue and Martin. These events were a bit like an early version of the London FrightFest Film Festival. That festival now takes place in other cinemas in London.
See also
In Spanish: Scala (club) para niños
