sentences:  In 1969, the theatre was offered and sold by Howard & Wyndham to Edinburgh City Council, to secure the theatre's future and its part in Edinburgh International Festivals and as a venue for Scottish Opera.At this time the King's was the most prominent theatre in the city, with the larger Empire now used for bingo, and the huge Playhouse still being used as a super-cinema.In 1970 the theatre was designated as a Category A listed building In 1985 the council invested £1.25m in the King's.