Edinburgh’s Infamous ‘Scabby’ Cinema Known for All the Wrong Reasons
Once a notorious cinema, this Edinburgh venue has a colorful history worth exploring
Edinburgh, Scotland, Cinema, Bingo Hall, La Scala, Classic Cinema
Edinburgh: Some locals might remember it as The Classic, while others call it Empire Bingo or La Scala, affectionately nicknamed ‘Scabby Lala’. It was a place full of character.
Located on Nicholson Street, this venue was infamous for its shabby interior and risqué films. But things changed in the 1980s when it became a bingo hall, giving it a whole new vibe.
Originally, it opened as The Royal Princess Theatre in 1875 but only kept that name for ten years. The Salvation Army took over, and by 1912, it became La Scala, a silent movie house.
It continued as a cinema until it transformed into Empire Bingo Hall, but many original features are still there. A 2019 survey showed that some decorative elements from the late 19th century have been preserved.
They noted that the building had been modified over the years, adapting from a small vaudeville theatre to a mid-20th-century cinema. Some changes, like adding support beams, were made in the 1950s.
Despite its ornate features, many remember it for the ‘dirty movies’ in the early ’80s. Young guys would sneak in through the fire exit just to catch a glimpse.
Cinema Treasures shared that La Scala Electric Theatre opened on December 31, 1912, and had a projection box at the back of the stalls. It later became the Classic Cinema in 1974, screening adult films.
Mercat Tours highlighted the building’s past, noting its tired facade and how older residents recall it as a not-so-glamorous cinema. La Scala opened in 1912, mixing films with variety acts.
It was never luxurious and earned the nickname ‘The Scabby Lala’ for its rundown look. In 1974, it rebranded as the Classic Cinema, showing what Mercat Meg called ‘films of a grown-up nature’. Now, it sits empty, waiting for a makeover.