Cineworld Cinema - Leicester Square

The Empire Leicester Square originally contained a 4/24 Wurlitzer that was played and recorded by famed US theatre organist Jesse Crawford circa 1933. As I recall, Crawford’s version of “My Love Song” was recorded here during this tour.

The organ was removed from the theatre around 40 years or so ago and has been in a private home near London ever since. The organ is in fine shape and is played regularly. It has been described as being the finest sounding Wurlitzer in a home in the UK.

The Empire will retain its name and money is being invested in the cinema to improve the sound baffling in the main auditorium. The rebuilding of the nightclub will hopefully also include the long talked about refurbishment and restoration of the front of the building which is in quite poor condition when you look closely.

The Empire is not going to become another Odeon…because of Odeon dominance in the west end the OFT insisted that Odeon divest itself of certain properties.Irish Cinema Chain Ward Anderson has bought the Empire.

Here is a photograph I took of the Empire in July 1964. The Thomas Lamb exterior was hidden for almost 30 years behind that 1960’s advertising cladding:
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Sorry to hear that the Empire’s days may be numbered. I caught a screening of “The Interpreter” last week while in London and found the large auditorium to be delightful: spacious, comfortable, large screen, curtains, the light show before the lights dimmed (changing colors around the proscenium), etc. A sense of showmanship rarely found anymore.

Famed cinema architect George Coles was responsible for the ‘new’ 1962 interior refurbishment of the Empire Theatre. It was the last work of this architect who had designed so many magnificent cinemas in the UK since the early 1920’s.

All that remained of the sumptious Thomas Lamb designed theatre of 1928 vintage was the facade, and that was hidden for many years behind an advertising billboard for the current attraction, until it was restored in the late 1990’s. George Coles single level auditorium was on the same level as the former circle, with the front section floored over what would have been the front stalls area. The former orchestra stalls of the Empire was converted into a dance hall, now used as a disco/nightclub.

I can remember visiting the old Empire about 1960 as a child to see the roadshow run of Ben-Hur. It seemed like a very old but very grand, and large, theatre that seemed to fit exactly the film it was showing. The one thing I most remember, sitting in the rear stalls, was the large projection booth that had been built downstairs to project the film in 70mm (Camera 65). The screen seemed enormous even from the back of the stalls. I suppose old theatres have to move on, but I’m sure it would be listed today if it still existed in its former glory.

this theatre is used for premieres and large epics, it recently hosted the UK premiere of Kill Bill and quentin tarrantino loves this theatre becuase of its superb stadium style main screen which has 1330 seats, second in size only to its neighbour the Odeon leicester sq 1800(ish) seats
of the two i much prefer the Empire which has much more legroom, reclining seats and a much bigger screen
the lobby was redecorated and recarpeted in 2003, lots of gold and red plush with huge leather sofas, the marquee remains rather shabby but it is rumoured that it will be restored in the near future
ps there is no remaining original plasterwork from the auditorium ceiling above the current 60’s one in empire 1 or in sc2 (the former ritz)

When I was last here I was shown that the original ceiling of the old empire still is alive and kicking above the new 1960’s one.