New Empire Palace

In Montrose, Angus, the Empire Picture House is believed to have opened around 1922. It was operated by Messrs. Cargill and Lyon, and the manager was James Moir. There was one show nightly, with two changes of programme each week.

By the mid-1920’s, the Empire Picture House had been leased to James Bell and renamed the Empire Variety Theatre. This indicates a move from films to live shows - but not completely, it would seem, as, soon afterwards, a new company, Montrose (Empire) Ltd. was set up by Mr Bell, and the advertising was then for “pictures and variety”.

By January 1927, according to an advertisement held by the Cinema Theatre Association Archive, this cinema/theatre had been renamed the New Empire Palace.

Circa 1929 Meyer Kalson took over the lease. It is not known whether a sound system was installed - but possibly not, as the New Empire Palace was not listed in the Kinematograph Year Books into the 1930’s.

It is therefore assumed that the New Empire Palace closed without being wired for sound, and that the building has long been demolished.

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