Empire Theatre
St. James's Street,
Burnley,
BB11 1NL
St. James's Street,
Burnley,
BB11 1NL
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Star Cinemas
Architects: Bertie Crewe, G.B. Rawcliffe
Styles: Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Empire Theatre of Varieties, New Empire Cinema
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The Empire Theatre of Varieties was opened on 29th October 1894. It was designed by architect G.B. Rawcliffe, and could seat 1,500 in orchestra stalls, dress circle and gallery levels. In December 1902 famed American escapologist Harry Houdini appeared on the stage.
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’, possibly to the plans of Liverpool based architectural firm Lewis & Co. Re-opening on 19th May 1930 as the New Empire Cinema with Charles E. Evans in the talkie/musical “Happy Days”. 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 was closed as a cinema in July 1970. It became a bingo club when the bingo operation was transferred 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. On 23rd October 2018 the stalls area was damaged in an arson attack. In 2020, the building still stands unused and in August 2020 a fundraising was being undertaken to finance immediate repairs and waterproofing the building.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The theatre re-opened as the New Empire cinema on Monday 19 May 1930 with “Happy Days”.
The Empire was a cinema all through the 1960s and actually closed in July 1970 under the ownership of Star Cinemas when the business was transferred the following day to the new Studio 1 and 2.It was then converted for Bingo use and the business was then transferred from the Palace which was later demolished.
On their Facebook page was a report about a recent arson attack. In the stalls area of the building.
Being put up for auction.
https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2018/burnley-empire-auction/?fbclid=IwAR0NYdSHW2QdaHWVqs4t9jg11cB2-w8BZVrCZiPT6Af99k3VHMdvF35GMI0
Sold at £1: A campaign to reopen the derelict Burnley Empire Theatre has taken a major step forward, after the building was sold to a group which has been trying to save it.
https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2018/burnley-empire-saved-campaign-group-buy-1/
The photos above show very little of the Empire, being more of the former Victoria Opera House, next door to the Empire. In the B&W photo the Empire is hidden behind the bus, and in the more recent image it is the plain black facade inbetween the small white building and the frontage with 3 windows and lights.