Members of the public are invited to step inside the city’s former “Cathedral of Motion Pictures” Green’s Playhouse to watch Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s ‘Broadway Melody of 1936’ as the silver screen returns to the site for one night only at 8:30pm on Tuesday 3rd January 2017 for a special free event. The screening is a collaboration between New Media Scotland, Film Mobile and NEoN Digital Arts Festival.
2017 has been designated Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, and as part of Dundee’s forthcoming community Hogmanay celebrations, the clock is being turned back to 1936 when the iconic Art Deco tower first opened to the public on what is now the site of Dundee’s Mecca bingo hall on Nethergate.
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, this Roy Del Ruth film tells the story of budding star (Eleanor Powell) trying to convince her high school sweetheart, now a Broadway producer (Robert Taylor) to give her a chance to star in his new musical. Of course there are plenty of classic song and dance routines from Hollywood’s golden era along the way.
Green’s Playhouse was designed by Joseph Emberton and John Fairweather. Emberton also designed the famous Simpsons of Piccadilly department store in London in 1936 and went on to design the circular casino at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1939. Emberton’s advertising tower was the only thing to survive the devastating fire at Green’s Playhouse on 26th August 1995.
We’re looking forward to stepping back in time and welcoming attendees to this unique venue for one night only.
Free tickets are available online from atmosphere.eventbrite.com and on the door, on the night. The audience can dress like their favourite vintage Hollywood stars, and also play bingo from 6:30pm before the main feature starts.
Production of screening Broadway Melody of 1936 is supported by Dundee City Council with thanks to Mecca Bingo.
