Victory! The Beautiful Vogue Cinema is Saved!
Hi, my name is Andrew Moore, I’m the person who started this petition to save the Vogue Cinema in Possilpark.
If you’ve followed my campaign or spoken to me in the past, I just want to say thank you, and I’m delighted to share the news that the appeal to remove the historic listing of the Vogue Cinema has been officially dismissed.
This means the building at 124 Balmore Road is now legally protected as a listed building and cannot be demolished or redeveloped without full listed building consent. The decision was issued on 11 July 2025 by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), who upheld its historic and architectural value.
How We Got Here
I started this petition in November 2024 when I discovered the Vogue Cinema was at serious risk of demolition. Since then, I’ve campaigned daily to raise awareness and protect it.
This has been a full-time effort, and included:
- Creating a Wikipedia page for the Vogue Cinema and one for its architect, James McKissack
- Posting weekly in local Possilpark Facebook groups to share updates, historical context, and rally community support
- Contacting Glasgow School of Art and University of Strathclyde, where McKissack studied
- Reaching out to cultural venues like the Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) and others to raise awareness
- Working to secure media coverage in Glasgow Times, Glasgow Live, Clyde 1 radio, and a TV segment
- Getting support from the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (ICADS) to apply international pressure
- Contacting local councillors, MSPs, heritage bodies, Historic Environment Scotland, and Glasgow City Council
- Researching ownership details and highlighting the building’s overlooked social and architectural history
I’ve done everything I could to keep this in the public eye and remind people how much this building means, not just for its beauty, but for its cultural importance to the community.
Why It Matters
The Vogue Cinema, designed by James McKissack in 1933, was built as part of Possilpark’s wider social housing plan. It’s a rare survivor of Scotland’s golden era of cinema design, decorated in ‘jazz moderne’ style and long beloved by the local community.
Despite damage and partial demolition, the DPEA ruled that the Vogue retains enough of its original character to qualify as a listed building of special architectural and historic interest. It’s now protected for future generations.
Thank You
To everyone who signed, supported, and stood behind this, you made a difference. I’m so proud of what we’ve done together.
The Vogue is safe now, but we must keep speaking up for our shared history. I’ll continue to do what I can, and I hope you’ll keep watching what happens next.
Thank you again.
– Andrew Moore