THIS week 100 years ago an iconic Saltcoats building opened its doors for the first time as what would soon become a very popular picture house.

The La Scala Cinema opened in Hamilton Street and was the first purpose-built cinema in the Three Towns.

The business survived until 1993 and is now home to the Salt Cot pub which still pays tribute to La Scala.

The cinema was built by the order of Mr George Kemp who was famous for his travelling shows throughout the UK and further afield.

Mr Kemp, who had the nickname ‘President’ decided on Saltcoats as the location after visiting and realising the appeal the seaside town had for tourists.

The first showing on October 6, was, aptly enough, of Italian film ‘Quo Vadis’ and La Scala also showed ‘The Singing Fool’ which is widely credited as one of the first full-length talking films, back in 1929.

Brian Kemp, 71, is great-grandson of original owner George Kemp and has provided the information and pictures from La Scala and his grandfather, Harry Kemp’s ‘Scotch Broth’ entertainers.A photograph of them remains in the Salt Cot to this day.

Brian was the proprietor of the cinema when it closed in March, 1993.

At the time, Saltcoats had the most cinemas per head of population in the UK (14,000 at the time) and since the La Scala opened there have been 16 cinemas in various forms and guises in the Three Towns area. As well as La Scala, the Kemp Family owned the Regal, De Luxe and Grange cinemas in Ayrshire and as well as films, they very often produced popular variety shows that were held within La Scala.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.