Empire Cinema

Killamarsh is a small town to the south east of Sheffield. On Monday 1st September 1913, on Sheffield Road, between Bridge Street and Quarry Road, the Empire cinema opened.

The Empire Picture House was a single storey building of brick construction. There was a central box office, with doors on both sides leading to the auditorium. The seating capacity was around 720; the back four or five rows were slightly raised, and termed the ‘balcony’. The remaining seats were in a central block, with aisles on both sides. The proscenium was 28ft wide, there was a 10ft deep stage and two dressing rooms, with variety being presented, at least during the silent era. Admission was 3d and 6d, with balcony seats, which could be reserved, at 9d. There was one show each evening, with two on Saturday and a children’s afternoon matinee, also on Saturday.

Early managers were W. Tellow and, later, J. F. Green. In June 1925 the cinema was acquired by Joe Steeples. Following his death in 1928 control passed to his sons, through Rotherham and District Cinemas. BTH sound equipment was installed in July-August 1930.

In May 1952 the Empire Picture House was sold to T. W. Ward, proprietor of the Rex Cinema, Intake, Sheffield (see separate Cinema Treasures entry), who installed his daughter Dorothy as manageress. According to the 1953 Kine Year Book, seating capacity by then was down to 562. By 1958 it had been renamed Empire Cinema and by the early-1960’s the seating capacity had reduced further, to 485.

From 18th September 1963 bingo was introduced on Wednesday evenings. Bingo subsequently also took over on Thursdays, then films and bingo swapped around until the final film show, on Tuesday 21st November 1967, starred Morecambe and Wise as “The Magnificent Two”. Bingo continued for a number of years, but that, too, eventually closed, on 29th March 1987, and the building was soon demolished.

A medical centre, now Killamarsh Medical Practice, was built on the site in 1990.

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