Maroon Mile The Tivoli Cinema

The Tivoli Cinema

Stop six of the Maroon Mile

The Tivoli Cinema opened its doors on 26 August 1913. The original cinema was the brainchild of three local entrepreneurs, two of whom (Bobby Walker and R Raymond) were associated with Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Between 1912 and 1937, when the nation saw a rise in recreational pursuits, four cinemas opened along the Maroon Mile, including the Haymarket Cinema (1912), Lyceum Cinema (1926), Poole’s Roxy Cinema (1937), and the Tivoli.

In 1933 the Tivoli closed its doors to create a new building which would become known as the New Tivoli. Designed by the prolific cinema architect James McKissack, the building included an iconic neon facade. It remained a cinema until 1973 before being converted into a bingo hall. The building is now home to Destiny Church.

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Stop 6 - The Tivoli Cinema

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Gorgie Farm

Gorgie Farm was the vision of local people who aimed to create a green space for community benefit. In 1982 it opened as a working farm, rearing animals and selling produce. The farm became a central part of the Gorgie and Dalry community, offering work experience, training, and nature-based learning in the heart of the city.

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The original cinema was the brainchild of local entrepreneurs, one of whom was the great Bobby Walker of Hearts and Scotland fame. It presented silent films, and variety acts in front of what was apparently an often-boisterous audience.