Bit of a rush job really only had enough for an hours carpark, visited solo whilst the Mrs waited in the car nearby - Some nice features in this old cinema, ornate plasterwork still in place, complete seated areas on the upper floors, shame the projector room was completely empty though and it is now suffering badly from the elements.
I had to light paint quite a bit of this which i'm not a big fan of or very good at so i'm not that pleased with the shots, but here ya go........
I had to light paint quite a bit of this which i'm not a big fan of or very good at so i'm not that pleased with the shots, but here ya go........
The Empire Theatre in Burnley was built for W. C. Horner of the Victoria Opera House in Burnley and designed by the architect G. B. Rawcliffe, who had previously designed the Victoria Opera House in Burnley. The Theatre opened on Monday the 29th of October 1894 with a variety show and could originally seat 1,935 people.
In 1909, it was taken over by James Pringle and films were then part of the programme. The auditorium was reconstructed in 1911, to the plans of noted theatre architect Bertie Crewe and seating increased to 1,808. Re-opening on 11th September 1911, it then remained the leading theatre in Burnley until 1930.
New owners took over and it was converted into Burnley’s ‘Superior Talkie Theatre’. Some use was made of the stage over the years, but it was mainly now used as a cinema.
The Empire Theatre was closed in June 1955, but reopened under the independent Buxton Cinemas chain in December 1955. Sold to the Star Cinemas chain in December 1958, it became a bingo club in the mid-1960’s, when the bingo operation was transfered from the nearby Palace-Hippodrome Theatre.
The last use of the stage at the Empire Theatre was on 29th October 1966, after a weeks run of the Burnley Light Opera Company production of “The Merry Widow”. In the 1990’s it became a Gala Bingo Club, and remained so until they moved to a purpose built bingo club in another part of town in 1995.
The Empire Theatre was designated a Grade II Listed building by English Heritage in 1996. In 2011, the building still stands unused.
Pics............
Cheers for looking
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