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This month the feature is on The Empire Theatre Leicester Square for its opening night on April 17, 1884. The feature includes the whole of the opening night programme, with transcribed text, including a detailed history of the site, the Theatre itself, its building, and accommodation.

The Empire Theatre opened with a production of 'Chilperic' which was a 'Grand Musical Spectacular' by Florimund Herve. It later became a Music Hall, 'The Empire Theatre of Varieties,' in 1887. A new vestibule and side entrance were added in 1893 by Frank Verity. The building was renamed The Empire Theatre again in 1898 but was closed and demolished on the 22nd January 1927.

Right - Click to begin this month's feature

Above Left - Empire Theatre of Varieties seating plan Pre 1907 - Click to Enlarge.

The second Empire Theatre was built primarily as a cinema and opened on the 8th November 1928 with the silent film 'Trewlawny of the Wells.' The Theatre still had a stage however and from 1949 Ballet and dancing shows were produced there. This Theatre was closed in May 1961 after a 76 week run of 'Ben Hur' and the interior was completely reconstructed. See the July 2003 Special Feature on the reconstruction and opening for more information and images of the Theatre.

'Cine-variety was presented at the Empire for several years during the late 1940s and early 1950s, the live shows were very elaborate affairs with a large cast and a large pit orchestra, and were similar to shows presented at Radio City Music Hall, New York. At normal West End Cinema ticket prices this type of entertainment was very good value for money. The programmes were issued free of charge.

The Empire had a large auditorium at that date, also a large stage, albeit, on a different axis to Leicester Square then the original Empire. Sir Alfred Butt, had insisted on the retention of a stage as a condition of sale when he sold the original Empire in 1927. The stage lighting for the shows was mainly overhead spot bars with Strand Patt 76 Acting area floods and booms of Stand Patt 50a pageant lamps from the wings, which gave very effective lighting. Unusually for a West End Theatre, the house stage lighting switchboard, was not the usual Strand make but a Blackburn & Starling job.'

Left - Cine-Variety Programme for the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square in March 1950 - Courtesy Alan Chudley -Click to see the Programme.

Text in quotes above courtesy Alan Chudley.

The Empire Cinema, now the third incarnation, opened on 19th December 1962 with 'Jumbo' and a ballroom was built below in what was once the Stalls of the second Empire Theatre. The Theatre remains pretty much in this incarnation and is one of Leicester Square's major Cinemas, currently run by UCI.

Click to begin this month's Feature on the Empire Theatre

Index to other Theatres and Cinemas in London's Leicester Square