Lothian Road was originally built in 1784 to give access from the west end of Princes Street to the new residential areas of Edinburgh’s southside - legend has it that Sir John Clerk constructed it in a single day to win a bet.
Today it’s home to several of the Capital’s landmarks and cultural attractions, including the Usher Hall, the Edinburgh Filmhouse, Festival Square and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel – alongside a myriad of popular bars and restaurants.
Read more:
Edinburgh Old Town Heritage in Pictures: Here are 28 fascinating photos of the city's historic centre in the 1950s and 1960s - from parades to pubs
But arguably the road’s heyday was in the 1960s, when shoppers flocked to luxury stores, the ABC Cinema (now the Odeon) hosted some of the biggest names in music - including The Beatles - and stars of the screen took to the red carpet for glitzy film premieres.
Here are 39 pictures from The Scotsman archive to take you back to the Lothian Road of the 1950s and 1960s.
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17. Golden ticket
Beatles fans queue outside the ABC Lothian Road for tickets for the band's show in April 1964. | TSPL

18. You better jump
Excited Beatles fans jump for joy after receiving their tickets at the end of their long wait at the ABC on Lothian Road in April 1964. | TSPL

19. Perfectly tailored
Mrs M Smith of the tailors and University outfitters JC Smith Ltd of Lothian Road in September 1964. | TSPL

20. Fab Four
The Beatles before their show in the ABC Lothian Road in October 1964. | TSPL

