Whether it was favourites like Stanley Baxter, John Grieve, Una McLean and Russell Hunter playing in annual pantomimes, veteran actors such as Sir John Gielgud and John Mills or stars who would find fame later, like future James Bond, Timothy Dalton and Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson, they were all here.
Scroll through these old photos selected from the Evening News archive and get a flavour of theatre life and entertainment in the Capital in the early 1970s.
21. Prime site
A notice showing the site of the new Royal Lyceum theatre in Castle Terrace Edinburgh in October 1972. | TSPL Photo: Hamish Campbell
22. Timothy Dalton
Delia Lindsay and Timothy Dalton in a photo-call at the Kings Theatre in Edinburgh in February 1972. | TSPL Photo: Dick Ewart
23. Search for a Star
The winners and judges of the Evening News/Scottish & Newcastle Search For A Star talent competition in the King's Theatre, Edinburgh, June 1971. L-r back row: Singer Richard Gibb; Alistair Samuel of the band Just Two Plus One (JTPO); DJ Stuart Henry; Thomas Taylor of JTPO; compere/comedian Lee Grant. Front row: Miss Scotland Libus Montgomery; Gordon Sinclair of JTPO; Junior Clarke III; Max McAuslane, editor of the Evening News; Paul Brelman, singer. | TSPL Photo: Bill Stout / Norman Wilson
24. Much Ado About Nothing
Actress Sylvia Syms in a production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Assembly Hall during the Edinburgh Festival 1970. | TSPL Photo: Denis Straughan