Empire Picture Palace

The talk of re-opening in 1995 was true. The former cinema was taken on lease(?) by Peter Moore, who owned the Empire, Holyhead, but was thwarted when he was arrested, tried and jailed for life for the murder of four homosexuals. This closed the Empire as well and left two other former cinemas he planned to re-open 'in limbo'.

Last saw this former cinema last year when it was empty, having been recently used as the local Labour Party HQ.

When running as a cinema, it unusually had an outside projection box, to comply with the 1909 cinematograph act, which overhung the street. This was demolished long ago.

The Empire was opened circa 1924, when the propreitor was listed as Captain Lewis Davies. This was probably incorrect as although he was still listed as propreitor in 1939, it is known that the owner was Captain Pritchard, who also owned cinemas in Criccieth, Pen y Groes and Caernarvon.
It ran on one show per ni8ght with three4 on Saturdays and changed programmes twice a week. Prices at opening were 5d to 1/3d. It could seat 400 patrons. By 1938 prices had changed to 6d to 1/-.
With the death of Captain Pritchard during WWII, the other cinemas were purchased by Paramount, but they declined the 'Empire' probably because of the amount of competition, and it was closed in 1945.