Empire Cinema

In Brechin, Angus, on 17th December 1909, a roller skating rink was opened by former Provost Guthrie. It was housed in a wooden building, 140ft long and 40ft wide.

In less than a year, the lease was acquired by George J. Melvin. He converted it into a cinema, opening Melvin’s Picture Palace on Monday 12th September 1910. There were two shows daily, at 7pm and 9pm. Prices were ‘basic stalls’ seats 3d, cushioned stalls seats 6d and balcony (with tip-up ‘lounge’ seats) 9d. (Presumably the balcony had been built as a viewing area for the rink, rather than being added when Mr Melvin took over.)

In 1912 Mr Melvin died. The building was purchased by George Lee, who re-named it Brechin Picture Palace and re-opened it on Monday 29th April 1912 with the drama “On a Tramp Steamer”, starring Robert Gaillard, headlining the programme.

The “Brechin” was soon dropped, and the cinema became simply the Picture Palace. In March 1917 Mr Lee was called up for wall duties, and the Picture Palace closed. Mr Lee’s fate in the war is not known, but the cinema was soon re-opened, in 1917, by Mr Tomassi. He re-named it Cassino, in memory of his home town in Italy.

However, Mr Tomassi was also a very brief proprietor as, on Monday 26th November 1917, Mr Rosso took over. He closed the cinema for four weeks for redecoration and refurbishment, re-opening it on Monday 31st December 1917, still as the Cassino.

The rapid changes of ownership did not end here, as James McGregor took over in early-1918, re-naming it the Empire Cinema, and then, later that year, Messrs. Suttie & Buick took over!

After all this frantic activity, the cinema had the last word when, at 2am on Sunday 25th March 1920, residents of the adjacent Victoria Place saw flames coming from the building. Within an hour, the wooden structure had been completely destroyed.

Housing now occupies the site.

(With grateful acknowledgement to ‘The Cinemas of Brechin’ by W. C. Birnie.)

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.