The Cameo, Edinburgh facts for kids
The Cameo is a famous cinema in Tollcross, Edinburgh, Scotland. It first opened its doors on January 8, 1914, under the name King's Cinema. This makes it one of the oldest cinemas in Scotland that is still showing movies today!
Since 1949, when it became the Cameo, it has been known for showing special "art house" films. These are often movies that are a bit different from big Hollywood blockbusters, focusing more on unique stories or artistic styles. The Cameo has also become a very important place for the Edinburgh International Film Festival, a big movie event in the city. Since 1992, the cinema has had three screens, so you can choose from more movies. For a long time, the Cameo was an independent cinema, meaning it was owned by itself. But in 2003, it was bought by Picturehouse Cinemas, which is part of the larger Cineworld company.
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A Look at the Cameo's History
Even though the front of the cinema looks modern, much of its original design from over 100 years ago is still there. When you walk in, the entrance lobby has a cool floor made of terrazzo (a mix of chips of marble or other stones). You can even see one of the original ticket booths!
The main cinema screen is actually built inside what used to be a courtyard behind a large building called a tenement. Many cinemas in Scotland were built this way a long time ago, but the Cameo is the only one still open today.
From Silent Movies to Talkies
When the Cameo first opened, it had a special mirrored screen, which was the first of its kind in Scotland. Back then, movies were silent, so an orchestra (sometimes Madam Egger's Ladies' Costume Orchestra!) would play music to go along with the film. The main screen area used to have 673 seats.
In 1930, the cinema was updated to show "talkies," which are movies with sound. The main room still looks much the same, but it's been made more comfortable for today's audiences. There are fewer seats now, but everyone has a better view. Look up and around, and you'll see lots of fancy plasterwork, like columns and decorative designs on the walls and ceilings.
Because of its special history and design, the Cameo cinema and the building it's part of were given a special "Category B listed" status by Historic Scotland in 2006. This means they are protected because they are important historical buildings.
Jim Poole's Vision
In 1949, a new owner named Jim Poole (1911–1998) renamed the cinema "The Cameo." His family, the Pooles, were famous for their traveling shows and for running cinemas across Scotland and England. Jim wanted to open a place in Edinburgh where he could show interesting foreign films.
Under Jim Poole, the Cameo started showing "art house" and "continental" (European) films. It also began its connection with the Edinburgh Film Festival in 1949. Jim was great at finding movies that weren't shown by bigger cinema chains, like Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) and Annie Hall (1977), and people loved them!
Jim Poole worked hard to fix up the cinema, which was old and had a leaky roof. In 1963, he even opened the first cinema bar in Edinburgh, where people could buy drinks. This was a big deal at the time! Jim retired in 1982, and the Cameo closed for a few years before reopening in 1986.
The Cameo Today
After 1986, the Cameo got a new owner. More shops next door were bought to make space for two more screens, which opened in the early 1990s. This meant the Cameo could show even more movies!
In 2005, there was a plan to change the main cinema room into a bar and restaurant. But many people loved the Cameo and started a "Save the Cameo" campaign. Because of their efforts, the plan was stopped. In 2006, the cinema's special protection status was even upgraded, helping to keep its beautiful interior safe from changes.
To celebrate its 60th anniversary as the Cameo, a rare copy of La symphonie pastorale was shown in March 2009. This was the very first film shown when the King's Cinema became the Cameo in 1949. In 2010, a newspaper called The Guardian even named the Cameo one of the "10 best Independent Cinemas" in the UK!
Famous Visitors to the Cameo
Many famous actors, directors, and other well-known people have visited the Cameo over the years, especially during the Edinburgh Film Festival.
Some of the big names who have been there include:
Sean Connery, who was born nearby, even opened the cinema's bar in 1963! More recently, director Quentin Tarantino was there when his movie Pulp Fiction opened in 1994. And Scottish author Irvine Welsh was at the Cameo for the world premiere of Trainspotting in 1996.
Other famous people who have visited include:
- Danny Boyle
- Richard E. Grant
- Robert Carlyle
- Ewan McGregor
- Tim Roth
- Ken Loach
- Billy Bragg
- Ray Winstone
- Charlize Theron
- John Cusack
- Tommy Wiseau
The Cameo in Books
The Cameo cinema even inspired a fictional place in a book! The author Camilla Grudova, who is from Canada, worked at the Cameo for a while after moving to Scotland. Her experiences there led her to create the "Paradise Cinema" in her novel Children of Paradise.
