On 31st January 1929 one of Paisley’s saddest tragedies took place in the Glen Cinema.
At an afternoon film a cannister of film started to smoulder causing smoke to enter the main cinema. In the panic to leave the cinema 70 children perished, crushed in their desperate attempts to get out.
Paisley Museum has a small display on the disaster.
Amongst the items on display are these tiny clogs which were worn by one of the victims, Harry Green.
Also on display is a boy’s cap and an invoice from the Co-op for the cost of one of the funerals.
The Glen Cinema stood right in the centre of the Town at the Cross, where Burton’s now stands. In this old postcard, below, the entrance can be seen at the left of the War Memorial.
Many thanks to Paisley Museum for allowing me to photograph the above display items (1st & 2nd Photos).
© paisleyonline.co.uk 2008
Another poignant photograph of the day showed the many abandoned coats, jackets and hats in the panic to get out of the cinema. (Below)
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