New Empire Theatre
22 Alexandra Street,
Southend-on-Sea,
SS1 1BU
22 Alexandra Street,
Southend-on-Sea,
SS1 1BU
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could this link be especially related to this cinema? No address on the advertisement, however http://www.originalposter.co.uk/fulldetails.asp?rid=19096
After many years of gradual dereliction, and the devastating 2015 fire, Hong Kong-based Sky Eagle Properties Ltd bought the building in 2016 for £750,000. Their planning application seeks permission for 24 flats, with shops and a community centre on the ground floor. As can be seen from my series of photographs, demolition took place between October/November 2016 and August 2017. This seemed an inordinately long time, although I believe at least two demolition contractors were involved, as the Victorian bricks in the fly tower were carefully removed and crated up to be reused.
I was in Southend this week (early March 2017) and took some pictures of the on-going demolition. They’re on my Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/28808395@N03/albums/72157625218084863
Some photos taken in November 2007, shortly before the New Empire Theatre was closed – sadly I did not get upstairs to the former balcony.
FACADE
FOYER
AUDITORIUM
STAGE WALL
There are reports of a fire at this cinema.It is reported in the local news paper, the fire service were in attendance around 8 am this morning 26-7-15.
Ken, I don’t know where and how you found these lovely hi-res pics, but how you’ve taken me back – on Saturday the 9th June 1962 I was in there watching the matinee of Escape from Zahrain ! (My dad had a music shop over in Weston Road and was given weekly passes to all the Southend cinemas in exchange for displaying posters and advertising material for the week’s films… )
I worked here for two years 1985 to 1986 as a projectionist
The auditorium of the ABC at its re-opening after modernisation in June 1962:
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A vintage photograph of the ABC on its re-opening 7th June 1962:
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A vintage photograph of the ABC foyer in 1962:
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The Empire Theatre was built in 1896 and closed in early 1920 for conversion by George Coles and Adams into the Rivoli Cinema.
The Rivoli Cinema opened on 31st May 1920 and it had a cafe and a church organ was installed. In 1928 it was equipped with a Christie 2Manual theatre organ which was rebuilt in 1936 after Union Cinemas had taken over operating the cinema. It was rebuilt with additional ranks as a Wurlitzer 3Manual/10Ranks instrument.