Above - Both sides of a Music Hall Token for Day's Crystal Palace, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham - Kindly sent in for inclusion on the site by Graham Sharp

Although always popular Day's Crystal Palace Concert Hall finally closed in September 1893 when the site was sold to Moss Empires who demolished most of it and set about building a new Theatre on the site.

Above - The Auditorium of The Empire Palace Theatre, Birmingham in 1895

This new Empire Theatre was designed by the renowned Theatre Architect Frank Matcham and built at a cost of £18,000. The Theatre opened as the New Empire Palace of Varieties on Monday the 7th of May 1894 with a variety show with Gus Elen as the headliner act. Also on the Bill were Chrgwin, the white eyed musical Kattir, the Lenton Family, acrobats, Ben Nathan, singer, F. W. Millis, ventriloquist, J. H. Hurst, Mrs. Lucas, Wal Pink and Co., Lucy Clarke, the Tiller Sixtette, the Two macs, and Esme and Leon.

Right - A programme for the Empire Palace Theatre, Birmingham, Feb 25th 1895 - Click for details.

Shortly before the Empire Theatre opened the Era printed a report on the new Theatre in their 5th of May 1894 edition saying: 'On Monday the above building, which has been erected by the Birmingham Empire Palace Company, under the managing-directorship of Mr H. E. Moss, the promoter of the scheme, will be opened. It is a conversion of Day's Concert Hall, which was built by Mr James Day in 1861. It abuts on Hurst-street and Smallbrook-street, Birmingham, and has been erected from the designs and under the personal supervision of Mr Frank Matcham. Certain portions of the walls, roof, and a part of the ceiling of the old building only remain.

It will be remembered by the habitués of Day's that the pit and stalls were situated on the first floor, and therefore the first thing that will attract attention is that the whole building has been lowered to the ground floor, the fauteuils and pit now being entered on a level with the street, the balcony occupying the position of the old pit, and a commodious gallery having been erected over this again. The new auditorium is very large and well proportioned, and is capable of accommodating about 3,000 persons. A very handsome facade in rich Italian renaissance, faced with red brick, with stone and cement-dressing, has been erected. This new building contains the entrances, staircases, retiring and dressing rooms, offices, and saloons. The principal entrance to the fauteuils and balcony is in the centre of the block. A large and handsome iron shelter covers the pavement, decorated in cream and gold, with rich coloured glass. Over this entrance is the directors' room, above which is a richly carved scroll pediment containing the words "Empire Palace" surmounted by a lyre and flanked with groups of life-size statuary representing music and dancing. At the ends of the facade are large gables containing carved panels symbolical of the Arts.

The floor of the grand vestibule is inlaid with mosaic, and the carved polished mahogany entrance doors are exceedingly handsome with their amber glass panels. The walls here are lined with panelled and moulded mahogany. The pay-office is also constructed of the same wood and amber glass. The panels are filled with hand-painted flowers on gold ground, and over the whole is a deep arched frieze with artistic figure painting. The domed ceiling is formed of raised fibrous plaster work with coved sides richly decorated to represent a sky, with birds, flowers, &c. To the left of the vestibule through a handsome mahogany screen is reached a crush-room, in which a staircase leads to the private boxes and to the ladies' room. This latter is fitted up luxuriously. The ceiling of the crush-room is richly decorated in raised plaster work, the walls being covered with a blue ground anaglypta, and the whole of the woodwork finished in white and gold. From this room the fauteuils are approached, doors to the right opening on one side of the promenade, with wide steps down to the fauteuils. A staircase from the crush-room leads to a wide subway, richly decorated and furnished, to a grand saloon, and thence to the promenade and fauteuils opposite.

Left - A programme for the Birmingham Empire, April 4th 1910 - Click for details.

The private boxes, of which there are three on each side, are approached from the ends of the subway by wide polished hard wood staircases. Ante-rooms are placed at each side of the stage, with the fronts opened and draped. From these a fine view of the house can be obtained. Under these rooms are richly curtained openings, giving access to the stage for the artists to take their calls without pulling the drop-scene aside. Instead of electric bells in the private boxes, telephones are provided.

The wide balcony staircase starts from the vestibule, conducting the visitor direct to the back of the balcony promenade; there is an additional staircase opposite to be used in case of alarm. The pit, which is a large one, fitted up with continuous seats upholstered in rich corduroy, the floor being covered with linoleum. The entrance is by a passage over 8ft. wide, leading direct to the inner doors. A wide exit is at the opposite corner of the pit.

The gallery, filled with upholstered seats, and provided with a wide promenade, has two separate fireproof staircases. The ground floor is divided into fauteuils and pit, with a large raised saloon bar at the rear. The promenade is arranged in imitation of a terrace, the fronts of which are divided into three bays with pilasters, walnut balusters, and coping, continued with a bold sweep to the centre bay, which has wide steps with bronze vases at each side, containing- palms.

The private boxes are very boldly treated, with niches between them, covered with canopies terminating in a balustrade, behind which is a promenade leading from the balcony, giving to those who may be at the back an opportunity of obtaining a clear view of aerial shows. The balcony is placed over the pit, and has eight rows of tip-up chairs, with a grand promenade at the back, from which a fine saloon is approached. The saloon is handsomely fitted with polished mahogany fittings, the walls and ceiling being finely decorated. The gallery is very commodious, and there is not a seat in the whole of the building the occupant of which will not be able to see every inch of the stage.

The house is heated throughout with hot water pipes and coils, and the ventilation has had special attention. Retiring rooms, fitted with every convenience, are provided on each floor for both ladies and gentlemen. The theatre is fitted with hydrants, and the staircase passages are all of fireproof material.

The stage is large, and is divided from the auditorium by a brick wall, the stage opening being fitted with an asbestos fireproof curtain and iron doors. There are large scene dock and property rooms. The dressing-rooms, which are at the side, are lighted by electricity, heated with hot water pipes, and fitted with lavatories and hot and cold water. The decorations have been designed by Mr Matcham on a bold scale. The fronts of the balcony and gallery are of raised plaster work, the boxes being elaborately ornamented and artistically finished. Particularly handsome is the proscenium, around which is carried a rich scroll ornament with marble border, flanked at the sides with polished marble columns. This is surmounted by a scrolled pediment with balustrading and a panelled device, containing the following quotation, "Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear"

A deep enriched cove is carried around the sides of the building, the panels in the cove being filled with trophies and designs. Over the proscenium is a fine painting by Ballard, representing "A Dream of a Carnival." From the sides of the building a series of arches spring from bold pilasters with rich Corinthian caps, the spaces containing bold semi-headed windows. The ceiling is appropriate in design, and on it are two large paintings by Ballard, representing "Comedy" and "Tragedy." The prevailing tints of the auditorium are terra-cotta, Blue, white, and gold. The upholstering and furnishing have been done by Mr A. R. Dean, of Birmingham. The whole building is illuminated by electricity, and over the proscenium a group of finely modelled cupids hold loops of the electric light.'

The above text in quotes was first published in the ERA, 5th May 1894 - Courtesy B.F.

The Empire Theatre was a successful Variety House for many years but sadly the Theatre was destroyed by enemy action in 1941 and subsequently demolished in 1951.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share, please Contact me.