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Author	Message / Information
TELSTAR	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/15/2008 8:45:54 PM VISIT www.bygonederbyshire.co.uk I have just done an article on my mother Dolly Elwell at the Heanor Empire. There are 4 photo's as well.
Iceboy53	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/5/2008 9:32:51 AM thanks bill...spasms starred peter fonda and oliver reed and was a horror film by all accounts...all things must pass i suppose and the empire was one of em!!
Red_Bill This message was updated on 10/4/2008 8:20:40 PM by Red_Bill	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/4/2008 8:16:35 PM Possible Last Film The film title "SPASMS" (from 1983) was displayed on the front of the Empire for a long time after the cinema closed. Those six capital letters, each about five inches (13cm) high, in blue on perspex, were still in position when the building was demolished and could then be seen in the rubble. I have a photo of the place at the start of demolition (1989) in which it is just about possible to make out that title. Bill
Iceboy53	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/4/2008 9:18:22 AM you don't happen to know what the last film was do you jenny..bit of a long shot really i know.
Jennypeg Researcher	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/3/2008 9:26:47 PM June 1983 Jenny
Iceboy53	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/3/2008 7:50:32 PM i don't know frontcentre that information will probably be in another heanor thread i think.. im just trying to find out about the empire.
frontcentre	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/3/2008 6:31:00 PM Back in the 60's there was Soars hardware, a barbers and a funky clothing boutique sort of thing at right angles to the Empire. Anybody remember anything else?
Iceboy53	Heanor Empire replied on: 10/3/2008 5:38:06 PM does anyone have any idea when the last was shown at the empire and what the film was ?
frontcentre	Heanor Empire replied on: 8/30/2008 2:31:41 PM And link this post to the new master plan - if all that happens, there will be even less of the buildings to be seen!
Iceboy53	Heanor Empire replied on: 8/28/2008 3:22:02 PM from research of this building i found this information.empire,built in 1911, in its heyday it was fully equipped as a theater to seat 733. In its early years, famous artists trod the boards included gracie fields, arthur tracy, sandy powell and jack warner.the first 'talkie' film to be shown at the empire was 'the singing fool' in august 1930.i wonder if they did any movie tone information films there during the second world war??? ice
germanrockstar	Heanor Empire replied on: 12/17/2006 5:36:55 PM Thanks for those words of welcome Robert. Re the theatrical digs - before the First World War, my grandparents had a barber's shop which was adjacent to the stage door entrance of the Empire - it must have been one of the shops at right angles to the Empire and the Labour Club. Apparently it was a big house with many rooms and because of its proximity to the Empire, it was ideal for theatrical digs. The shop was closed and sold during the war, I think round about 1918 as grandad had joined the navy and there was no-one to carry on the business. I do not know the names of any artistes who stayed at that time, but I did hear stories from my parents of occasional shows in the 30's - they saw Sandy Powell, Arthur Tracey (the Street Singer)and others. I believe that amateur productions were also staged occasionally - Gilbert and Sullivan operettas for example. But I think the Empire was primarily a cinema rather than a theatre.
RMMee Moderator	Heanor Empire replied on: 12/17/2006 3:56:50 PM Welcome to the site GRS. The theatrical digs are very interesting - if you can add anything further, I'd be very grateful. I don't know if you have seen the item on the Liberal Club, but that also mentions the theatricals! According to David Roddis' book, "The Thrill of it All," the Empire changed its name from "Theatre" to "Cinema" by the 1930's, but he is no more precise than that. By that time, it basically only showed films, but did have occasional charity concerts. It is interesting that he lists visits by film actors to the cinema/theatre in the 30's, including Sandy Powell, George Formby and Jack Warner - I wonder if any of them stopped at the digs you mention? Please feel free to add to any of the threads, or to start your own. Cheers Robert
germanrockstar	Heanor Empire replied on: 12/17/2006 9:53:09 AM HEANOR EMPIRE EARLY DAYS Before the First World War, my grandparents had a shop on the Empire side of Red Lion Square. At that time the Empire was a theatre/Music Hall with travelling artistes. My grandparents ran "theatrical digs", providing accommodation for the artistes. I wonder how the Empire continued during the First World War as so many men were away fighting - I presume it carried on with its entertainment? In the 20's 30's and 40's I believe it continued with these Music Hall shows as well as it becoming primarily a cinema. Does anyone know when the theatrical shows ceased and it became purely a cinema?
germanrockstar	Heanor Empire replied on: 12/14/2006 2:08:49 PM I last visited the Empire just before it closed down in the early 1980's to see "Privates on Parade". The usherette said "Wait whilst I find you a seat". I thought that they must be doing good trade. However I found on entry that we were the only people in the cinema and virtually all the seats in the stalls had been removed. The ones that were left were all in terrible condition, but the usherette finslly found a couple of seats that were reasonably comfortable. I thought that it was a very sad state of affairs that such an important building in the life of the Heanor residents was to end it's days like this. I was even sorrier to see it eventually demolished. Why has Heanor appear to have very little pride in it's old buildings? I have seen too much of old Heanor disappear in this way.
suzard Researcher This message was updated on 12/13/2006 11:05:58 PM by suzard	Heanor Empire replied on: 12/13/2006 11:04:05 PM Flats have been built where the Empire stood -and the address is Empire Court -so the name (at least) lives on. I remember the Rex at Eastwood, Wesley, there was a coffee bar on the side of it. When it was demolished to make way for the supermarket, at least the Scouts (whose hut was close by) stood firm and wouldn't let them have "their" land.maybe memories of the rex should be on Eastwood section?

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