Bollywood Screening

Many South Asian families who settled in Glasgow have fond memories of watching Bollywood films at La Scala. More than just a Sunday cinema trip, these screenings were an opportunity for communities to come together, socialise, and celebrate film, culture and connection.

To honour this shared history, we're hosting a special pop-up screening of a Bollywood feature film curated by Neha Apsara. Join us for an evening of refreshments, conversation and cinema in Waterstones, the former home of the iconic La Scala Cinema.

Save the date: Wednesday 23 September, 6 – 10pm

Details of the featured film and ticket sales will be announced during the first week of September.

About La Scala Cinema

La Scala Cinema opened on 17 October 1912 and was operated by Glasgow Photo Playhouse Ltd. Housed within a converted warehouse, it was designed by architects Neil Campbell Duff and James McKissack. The cinema featured a 1,000-seat auditorium with stalls and a balcony supported by distinctive side-slip pillars.

Renamed the Scala Film Centre in 1981, the cinema closed on 28 May 1984, with its final programme including Police Academy, Night Moves and Risky Business. Although the auditorium was later demolished, the building's front section survived and was converted for retail use. Today, it is home to Waterstones Bookshop.

Access Information

Waterstones Sauchiehall Street has a passenger lift to all levels of the building. This screening of The 39 Steps (1935) will include descriptive subtitles (also known as HOH subtitles) in English. The talk will not be subtitled.