You wouldn’t know to walk past it but a ‘hidden’ cinema sits on Fettes Row - and has done for almost 90 years.
The Edinburgh Cine and Video Society (ECVS) was founded back in 1936, moving into the building and setting up a cinema, lounge, studio space and darkroom for film processing. They purchased the ground floor and basement at 23 Fettes Row, for just £500.
Now, they’re still functioning as Scotland’s longest running movie making society. An event on March 1 is hoping to get some attention back on ECVS, after it took a hit due to the pandemic.
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Promoting the event online, Gordon Guthrie said: “The society is having an open evening on Wednesday March 1 at 7pm.
“We invite anyone with an interest in moving pictures in the widest sense to come along and see the premises, and chat about how we can breathe life into the building again.
“Invitations have been sent as widely as possible to film projects and festivals made homeless by the closure of the Film House, to TikTokers and YouTubers, drone landscape filmers and indoor drone racing enthusiasts, kids film clubs, you name it.
“Come along, look around and help the club rebuild from lockdown.”
This isn’t the first time the cinema has suffered, with both World Wars unsurprisingly causing issues at the ECVS. With many male members serving the country, there was a shortage of film stock - though a group of women kept the society going and raised funds to help with the mortgage.
After the Second World War, they enjoyed a resurgence and regular meetings and screenings began again. In the ‘50s, the old bus seats in the screen were replaced with stock from a local cinema that was closing.
The club was flourishing, and reached its maximum membership of 150 people - even requiring a waitlist. In the early 70s, the club rooms was given listed status.
If you’re interested in what’s happening at the ECVS, you can find out more here.
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