Empire Cinema

The Odeon Theatre, Bromley opened on 21st September 1936 with Max Miller in “Educated Evans”.

Designed by prolific and noted architect George Coles in an Art Deco/Art Moderne style, the narrow frontage on the main high street consisted of a deeply curved recess which was flanked by rounded wings and an outwardly curving canopy that had the theatres name sign mounted on top of it. Seating in the auditorium was provided for1,492; 1,018 in the stalls and 474 in the circle. The decoration in the auditorium was rather plain and had wavey bands along the side walls.

The Odeon was tripled in April 1976 with the circle extended forward to seat 760 and two smaller screens seating 125 and 116 located in the former rear stalls. In 1988 the Odeon closed for major re-configuration of the screens when two additional screens were added, one on the former stage and the other in the former front stalls which meant a loss of one of the rear stalls screens.

All screens were re-furbished in 2001 and the Odeon, Bromley serves as a first run cinema in what today is in reality a location in Southeast outer Greater London.

In 2006 it was taken over by Empire Cinemas Ltd and re-named Empire. Seating capacities in the screens are: 1. 386, 2. 123, 3. 101 and 4. 276.

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

KenRoe on October 13, 2005 at 5:04 am

A close-up photograph of the facade taken in 1971:
View link

KenRoe on December 24, 2005 at 6:46 am

Two 2003 exterior photographs showing the current signage on the Odeon Bromley:
http://www.cinephoto.co.uk/odeon_bromley.htm

KenRoe on April 18, 2006 at 11:47 pm

As from April 2006, the Odeon Bromley was one of several cinemas taken over by the Irish Based exhibitor Ward-Anderson and is now known as the Empire Cinema.

lostmemory on June 6, 2008 at 9:37 am

The first photo on this page is the Odeon Bromley circa 1954.

lostmemory on September 11, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Here is a 2007 photo of the Empire.

lostmemory on December 5, 2008 at 7:11 pm

This is a new link for the 1971 photo.

lostmemory on December 22, 2008 at 10:18 am

A 2008 photo can be seen here.

lostmemory on December 25, 2008 at 7:59 am

Here is the Odeon Bromley in October of 2001.

lostmemory on June 13, 2009 at 4:16 pm

This is a 2009 exterior view.

Ian on August 30, 2012 at 12:25 am

Some photos dating from 1990.

EXTERIOR

FOYER

SCREEN IN FORMER CIRCLE

SCREEN IN FORMER FRONT STALLS