These pedestrians in Argyle Street had probably gone out for a bit of shopping or to see a film at the cinema, but hours later they were fleeing from a tragedy.
This was the scene in the city centre on May 4, 1949 as fire broke out in the Grafton’s fashion shop, near Argyle Street’s junction with Stockwell Street. Being a Wednesday that was the busiest shopping day of the week.
Flames were discovered in an elevator shaft and, when fire crews arrived, there was so much smoke, they did not know which side of the street the fire was on.
Crowds of cinema-goers from the next door Argyle picture house were evacuated, adding to the crowds and confusion in the street.
It took two hours to bring the blaze under control and, sadly, 13 women shop assistants, aged 15 to 23, lost their lives, while two dozen other people were injured.
It was another grim day in Glasgow’s history.
Many hostelries in the 1970s were considered men’s pubs and all the customers in this 1971 picture are men.
They are drinking in the popular Samuel Dow’s in Mitchell Street, in the city centre. The pub is no longer there, but still has a city centre presence opposite Queen Street Station.
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