The Garston Empire in Liverpool's James Street was built to the plans of George Caroll in 1915. The auditorium was built on two levels with a single curved balcony and a box on either side. The Theatre only had a short life as a live performance venue however because three years later in 1918 it was converted into a Cinema.

The Cinema was a lot more successful and continued showing films for 40 years until in 1962, like so many other former Theatres and Cinemas, the Garston Empire was converted for Bingo, or rather the Stalls were, as the balcony still retains its original Theatre seats. The stage of the Theatre remains but underneath a bar has been built into the space, reached from the stalls via the former Orchestra Pit which has now had its front removed.

'At one time the Empire was known as Garston Theatre Royal. One of the shows presented at the Garston Empire - date uncertain - was Archie Pitt's "It's a Bargain" a revue with the then young Gracie fields, which was the fore-runner of the better known, "Mr Tower of London". The week before the Garston engagement the revue was at the Victoria theatre, West Stanley, where they played to very poor business and the cast had to wait at the station until Archie Pitt and his brother Bert were able to borrow enough money to take the revue to the Garston Empire.'

Text in quotes Courtesy Alan Chudley.

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre you are willing to share please Contact Me Here...

 

 

 

Web www.arthurlloyd.co.uk