theatreofvarieties: Many, many thanks, once again!
NO, THE STADIA ONLY DATES FROM 1962 AND THATS WHERE THEY ARE FROM.
Ah… combined with your post saying that the 1927 circle went higher, the jigsaw puzzle of the 1962 conversion finally makes sense.
For instance, I could never work out why the old “tea room” seemed to be wider than the 1962 main foyer area, with the sloped ceiling implying that the stadia structure is encroaching on the right side of the 1962 foyer.
(Put that way, it seems obvious now; but the layout of the rear of the 1928 auditorium is similar.)
Overlaying redrawn section plans (which I’d previously assumed were simply in no way to scale) suggests that the original projection ports were higher, and the 1962 stadia lower and slightly less steeply raked.
The position of the original circle seems to be approximately at the top of the lighter coloured tiles at the bottom of the sidewalls of the Empire 1’s circle section?
IIRC, from the book “Empire Leicester Square – The First 100 Years” (David High) the original circle was formed by a continuous pour of concrete. The 1962 reconstruction must have been extreme indeed; I can’t work out where the primary girder for the circle could be.
NO, IT HAS BAFFLETTES AROUND THE STAGE SPEAKERS
Fantastic. :–)
It was the 1960 comfort deluxe model, there were 100 taken out and saved, the rest were scrapped.
What happened to the 100 that were saved, and were any other elements of Empire 1 removed and saved?
Also, I wonder about the specifications of the IMAX concealed colour-changing LED lighting, and the cold cathode concealed lights that were in Empire 1?
With the LED lights, I assume that flexible strip types are used, other than the ones around the screen?
Visited the Empire Leicester Square to attend a screening of “Blade Runner 2049” in the IMAX auditorium.
Absolutely stunning film; one could say it’s exactly the film the auditorium was built for. Outstanding picture and excellent (12 channel) sound as well.
Auditorium spotless with very good air conditioning, lighting all well timed to match programme, “non-sync” music from the movie soundtrack.
Pre-show announcement by a member of staff began with “Welcome to the Empire… er… Cineworld Leicester Square…”
“Blade Runner” version of IMAX “Countdown” trailer played.
Foyer continues to deteriorate.
Photos uploaded: “Strictly No Cameras” notice at the entrance to the IMAX auditorium, HVAC extraction duct grille on the 1962 stadia riser.
Turns out that the American Seating Company has sold its architectural fixed seating business to the Irwin Seating Company, also of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
They still offer the following product from the American Seating Company range suitable for auditorium use:
Irwin Seating Company – American Seating Products – Stellar.
This seems to be the closest available new seating to the seats that were installed in Empire 1.
They also have a page showing an example refurbishment of old American Seating Company product.
Zappomatic: If they’ve already done the new fit-out last time you visited, then why would the acoustics change for Atmos?
The “wooden” wall cladding I can only assume was there because someone thought it would look good… an acoustic disaster!
Quite interesting to compare the original auditorium with today’s standards, cinema interiors have moved on a lot in 10 years. Granted, they tend towards black boxes with few decorative features, but they’re far better than the average tacky multiplex auditorium.
Really should haul myself over to the O2 at some point check out the refurbished screen… alas, more “new” auditoria than films worth seeing these days!
As part of my ongoing research into all aspects of cinemas, I stumbled on the following, which I found amusing:
“In the Towngate Theatre (Poole)… (there is a very) obvious echo (from the rear wall)… Acoustic tiles were installed (as an attempted remedial treatment) in 1978, but the NEXT DAY (my emphasis) (they were painted) the same colour as the adjacent walls… blocking the pores which made them acoustically absorbent.”
FanaticalAboutOdeon: Bring back “The First Choice”!
Regarding the separate 3D screen, as I mentioned in a previous post, the proposed facade has a large Dolby “Double-D” logo prominently positioned above the balcony, suggesting the refurbished cinema will feature a Dolby Cinema installation.
Dolby’s 3D system uses spectral filtering (i.e. slightly different red/green/blue wavelength for each eye, with the wavelength for the other eye filtered by the 3D glasses) rather than polarisation, thus obviating the need for the (polarisation preserving) silver screen.
(I hadn’t thought about this until I replied to your post…!)
Zappomatic: Ah! Personally I’d rather flagship/key sites were invested in… bringing up auditoria to “next gen” standards of projection, sound and seating requires major investment…
There were so many multiplexes built within a few years, it’s a little strange to think that they are starting to become like the “fleapits” that so many of the old picture palaces ended up as…
It might be (yet more!) off the mark speculation from my overactive brain, but as Canary Wharf expands North towards Aspen Way it’s getting awfully close to the Cineworld…
I’d be amazed if Billingsgate Market doesn’t move at some point… the adjacent McDonald’s Drive-Thru has been demolished to make way for high rise apartments (with a replacement McDonald’s!) OK, not directly relevant to this site, but it’s a clue on the direction things are moving in the area…
I’m just finding this all a bit odd as they have other sites in London greater need of upgrading, for example other than the Star Seating trial and some new carpet the screens are unchanged from their 2000 state meaning a metal bar can be felt in the backrest of many of the seats.
Wonder what speakers they’re using for Atmos? The SuperScreen had almost as well specified a system as Empire 1 with top-of-the-line JBL ScreenArray screen speakers (dual 18" drivers for the bass section.)
“The 4DX DCP is identical to the regular DCP that we will have classified in the usual way. So, unlike a 3D or IMAX version of a 2D film, 4DX does not involve a different version of the film. In a 4DX exhibition, the classified DCP plays in parallel with a file containing instructions [for the 4DX seats/equipment.]”
RPG… I shudder to think of the cost… Alas, I can’t find anyone selling them online.
two decorative brass ones under the projection overhang in the back wall (only decorative part of the 60’s auditorium to survive albeit now sprayed black) in addition to about 300 small grilles under the seating at every level.
I noticed that feature remained—that solves what was another mystery for me. As a teenager, I had thought they were “hatches” that could be opened to sell concessions!
The small grilles I think are visible in your photos of the strip-out—do these date back to the 1927 auditorium?
I hope you won’t mind if I ask a few more questions…
-In the IMAX auditorium, I assume the “boxing out” beneath the ceiling at the screen end and the “kinks” at the ends of the adjacent curved ceiling section cover up parts of the roof structure?
-The IMAX auditorium I estimate to be 120x90ft. max, with the screen moved forward by 40ft. or so from its position in Empire 1?
-I assume there is no baffle wall in the IMPACT auditorium?
-In UNICK Architects' rendering of the IMPACT auditorium, it shows red LED strips on the sidewalls. Were these originally planned but later dropped?
-It seems that the American Seating Company no longer sell auditorium seating. Do you know the model of the seats used in Empire 1?
Zappomatic: Interesting point, might be because the high frequency dispersion of the screen speakers doesn’t work with a relatively wide auditorium with seating that close to the screen?
Having a quick look at speakers for small auditoria, the specification sheet for the JBL 3678 gives 90deg as the nominal horizontal coverage for the high frequency horn section. So based on that, the side seats in Screen 7 would indeed be outside this for the centre speaker.
Albeit the screen perforations will cause some high frequency spreading, which might help.
OTOH, why would you sit off centre, if you had a choice…? Where possible, I always pre-book centre seats.
I haven’t been to the IMPACT/SuperScreen for a while, but IIRC the picture didn’t have perfectly straight edges, some “barrel” (like a goldfish bowl) distortion.
Whereas the IMAX seems to be perfect in this respect.
When I went there last month, there was still masking in Screen 6. Tabs are still there as well, albeit left open. Was going to go to Screen 5 yesterday to check out the Atmos installation but couldn’t fit it in. :–(
PhilipWW: Empire Cinemas gave the screen sizes as:
IMAX: 26.5mx15.6m = approx. 1.7:1.
IMPACT/SuperScreen: 20.5mx11m = approx. 1.86:1.
I don’t think the IMAX projection quite reaches the top of the screen, but IIRC almost all of the screen was filled for the segments of Dunkirk shot using IMAX 15/70 cameras. The IMAX laser projectors can do 1.4:1.
BTW, Screen 1 is actually the IMPACT/SuperScreen, Screen 3 is the IMAX.
When I spoke to someone from Cineworld (who has worked at the Empire since the UCI days) last month, they told me that the 4DX conversion and foyer refurbishments were the first priority. I walked past the Empire yesterday, I couldn’t see any sign of foyer refurbishment. The 4DX is definitely underway as a month ago progress was at least up to the point of completing the strip-out.
Screen 7 is definitely impressive for the size of the auditorium, I think it’s as big as those much larger auditoria in some other nearby venues, almost the same width as VUE West End Screen 6, if I’m not mistaken.
The IMPACT/SuperScreen definitely needs masking and I can’t understand why it wasn’t installed in the first place.
An upgrade to laser projection would also be good.
Plans for the project can be found on Sutton Council’s website, planning application no. B2017/77471.
Two IMPACT auditoriums are to be included, one an “IMPACT LUXE” (no. 3) and the other an “IMPACT BLUE” (no. 8) (whatever that means?) There will also be a D-BOX auditorium (no. 2.)
Seats to include recliner and sofa premium options, except D-BOX (all recliner?)
Seat counts: 90, 30, 167, 66, 36, 96, 60, 156, 60, 107 = 868 total, of which 147 are recliners, and 238 are sofas.
Screen sizes:
IMPACT LUXE – 13.95x7.54m. (~46x25ft.)
IMPACT BLUE – 13.16x7.12m.
D-BOX – 7.71x4.17m.
Comparing to the existing plans, existing auditoria 2 and 5 are being converted to IMPACT auditoria, with all other auditoria subdivided to form an additional screen each.
The “flyer” on Empire Cinema’s website says “IMPACT Powered by Dolby Atmos,” so I assume both IMPACT auditoria will be so equipped.
Drawings submitted for planning are by UNICK Architects.
theatreofvarieties: Thank you once again for your very informative posts.
That’s great to hear that Cineworld have a 60 year lease on it—I will be able to sleep easier at night knowing this!
My (clearly outdated) understanding was that the casino held the head lease, expiring 2030, with the cinema subleased.
L&R formally objected to windows being installed (as part of the hotel conversion) on the rear of 1-4 Leicester Sq. as it could compromise future development potential. However, permission was granted permission on appeal. (16/00408/TPCON.)
I wonder what you mean by “[Empire 1] had too many things wrong with it and needed too much money just to keep it in one piece”?
I guess the origin of the tiles shall forever have to remain a mystery! I would, however, be interested in the source of the sintered glass tiles that you said were applied to the existing in 2006?
I have some more arcane questions, if you would be kind enough to answer them.
-My third visit to the IMAX auditorium in 2014 was for a late night screening. I noticed that the room temperature was cycling between hot/cold, although this now seems to have been fixed. Empire 1 always had fantastic air conditioning in my experience. The IMAX clearly has four vents in the ceiling, which I assume are for the return? Empire 1 seemed to have vents just behind the edges of each ceiling “cove” and the set for the cove just ahead of the projection booth can be seen in your photo. So, just wondering what changes, other than raising the ductwork, if any, were made to the air conditioning?
-In your photo of the IMAX auditorium—"New ceiling framework“—there is a black area in the middle of the right curved ceiling section. Slightly confused as I thought it was normal practice to attach stretched fabric to (fixings on) plasterboard, and also acoustic absorption behind the stretched fabric? It doesn’t looks like there’s much space for it.
-Was there insulation above the ceiling in Empire 1? I would have expected that it would be required for THX certification?
Thanks for your reply to my photo of the worn out ceiling, shame no-one will apply flocking in-situ these days, I imagine Health and Safety reasons.
Zappomatic: During my last trip (Dunkirk), I had a look behind the back of the cinema (Lisle Street/Leicester Place), mainly to take photos of urine stains outside the fire exits for amusement value, but I thought perhaps it was getting altogether too silly to upload them!
Anyway, there is a sign by a door on Leicester Place which says “Empire Studios”. (I’ll upload the photo tomorrow.) I don’t remember it being there previously, and it’s not visible on Google Maps Street View.
The relevant planning application is 06/08456/FULL — “Alterations to existing tank room to create additional office space, erection of new tank room and alterations to staircase at roof level, together with erection of canopy above Leicester Place entrance.”
For some reason the documents aren’t available? “Planning Application details not available.”
Anyway, you can see the location of the “tank room” here, in the lower cross-section plan:
(The upper cross-section plan, of course, is for the 1927 auditorium; not sure why the “dome” is included in lower one.)
I imagine it was originally used to house the organ.
Also, there are high level offices behind what was the left hand wall of Empire 1, which I assume are part of Empire Studios.
I recall from the 2006 planning application that Muraspec wall coverings were specified. That stuff retails for, say, £15-30+ per sq. metre… very expensive for wallpaper, so I assume the offices are nicely decorated!
(I thought I might buy some myself… until I realised the price was “per linear metre” (130cm width) and not per roll!)
I imagine it’s a fancy “head office” rather than housing all staff. An embarrassing situation indeed!
Empire Cinemas 2 still exists as an active company, being an indirectly held subsidiary of Cineworld. Looking at Cineworld’s Annual Report 2016, Picturehouse had the same structure, e.g. “City Screen (Cambridge) Limited.” All of those City Screen (aka Picturehouse) subsidiary companies will soon be dissolved, though.
Originally opened with an Iwerks screen, as of 2015 it has been equipped with IMAX Digital in one auditorium. It was one of the first two Vue sites in the UK to have an IMAX screen, Vue being the last major UK operator with no IMAX screens in the UK.
Video of the IMAX screen installation. The video includes seating and flooring installation, screen frame assembly, screen speaker installation, and screen installation.
The screen speakers are not the same as those installed in larger IMAX venues, and there is no “Voice of God” speaker.
There is also plenty of height remaining above the screen!
t still says “Cineworld Cinemas Leicester Square at the Empire Theatre” on Facebook—that’s the only “public” place I’ve seen them use “Empire.” It’s always been Cineworld Leicester Square AFAIK on their website.
The foyer rendering has “Cineworld Empire” on the right vestibule wall.
To be fair, it is confusing to use the word “Empire” when there’s the “Empire Cinemas” chain, plus potential trademark issues.
OTOH, I think it’s pretty clear from the foyer rendering that they are not interested in the heritage aspects, and their annual reports/presentations say that they have achieved their long held ambition of having a flagship West End site. I expect it therefore will continue to be run as a West End flagship, but with Cineworld branding it as their site… “star” logos emblazoned all over.
As long as the Casino is called the “Empire Casino” the Empire name shall remain. Additionally, Empire Cinemas' HQ is still in the same building!
The long term risk may be if owner London + Regional Properties tears the whole building down to make way for a hotel, presumably with downsized leisure areas in the basements. I imagine Cineworld have more leverage than Empire Cinemas to stop the real doomsday scenario…
theatreofvarieties: Many, many thanks, once again!
Ah… combined with your post saying that the 1927 circle went higher, the jigsaw puzzle of the 1962 conversion finally makes sense.
For instance, I could never work out why the old “tea room” seemed to be wider than the 1962 main foyer area, with the sloped ceiling implying that the stadia structure is encroaching on the right side of the 1962 foyer.
(Put that way, it seems obvious now; but the layout of the rear of the 1928 auditorium is similar.)
Overlaying redrawn section plans (which I’d previously assumed were simply in no way to scale) suggests that the original projection ports were higher, and the 1962 stadia lower and slightly less steeply raked.
The position of the original circle seems to be approximately at the top of the lighter coloured tiles at the bottom of the sidewalls of the Empire 1’s circle section?
IIRC, from the book “Empire Leicester Square – The First 100 Years” (David High) the original circle was formed by a continuous pour of concrete. The 1962 reconstruction must have been extreme indeed; I can’t work out where the primary girder for the circle could be.
Fantastic. :–)
What happened to the 100 that were saved, and were any other elements of Empire 1 removed and saved?
Also, I wonder about the specifications of the IMAX concealed colour-changing LED lighting, and the cold cathode concealed lights that were in Empire 1?
With the LED lights, I assume that flexible strip types are used, other than the ones around the screen?
Visited the Empire Leicester Square to attend a screening of “Blade Runner 2049” in the IMAX auditorium.
Absolutely stunning film; one could say it’s exactly the film the auditorium was built for. Outstanding picture and excellent (12 channel) sound as well.
Auditorium spotless with very good air conditioning, lighting all well timed to match programme, “non-sync” music from the movie soundtrack.
Pre-show announcement by a member of staff began with “Welcome to the Empire… er… Cineworld Leicester Square…”
“Blade Runner” version of IMAX “Countdown” trailer played.
Foyer continues to deteriorate.
Photos uploaded: “Strictly No Cameras” notice at the entrance to the IMAX auditorium, HVAC extraction duct grille on the 1962 stadia riser.
Oops, omitted the link in the previous post:
Irwin Seating Company – American Seating Products – Stellar.
Turns out that the American Seating Company has sold its architectural fixed seating business to the Irwin Seating Company, also of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
They still offer the following product from the American Seating Company range suitable for auditorium use:
Irwin Seating Company – American Seating Products – Stellar.
This seems to be the closest available new seating to the seats that were installed in Empire 1.
They also have a page showing an example refurbishment of old American Seating Company product.
Aspects of these seats are rather familiar.
Zappomatic: If they’ve already done the new fit-out last time you visited, then why would the acoustics change for Atmos?
The “wooden” wall cladding I can only assume was there because someone thought it would look good… an acoustic disaster!
Quite interesting to compare the original auditorium with today’s standards, cinema interiors have moved on a lot in 10 years. Granted, they tend towards black boxes with few decorative features, but they’re far better than the average tacky multiplex auditorium.
Really should haul myself over to the O2 at some point check out the refurbished screen… alas, more “new” auditoria than films worth seeing these days!
As part of my ongoing research into all aspects of cinemas, I stumbled on the following, which I found amusing:
“In the Towngate Theatre (Poole)… (there is a very) obvious echo (from the rear wall)… Acoustic tiles were installed (as an attempted remedial treatment) in 1978, but the NEXT DAY (my emphasis) (they were painted) the same colour as the adjacent walls… blocking the pores which made them acoustically absorbent.”
(From the book Auditorium Acoustics and Architectural Design.)
At least it took more than 25 years for the same blunder to occur in Empire 1!
FanaticalAboutOdeon: Bring back “The First Choice”!
Regarding the separate 3D screen, as I mentioned in a previous post, the proposed facade has a large Dolby “Double-D” logo prominently positioned above the balcony, suggesting the refurbished cinema will feature a Dolby Cinema installation.
Dolby’s 3D system uses spectral filtering (i.e. slightly different red/green/blue wavelength for each eye, with the wavelength for the other eye filtered by the 3D glasses) rather than polarisation, thus obviating the need for the (polarisation preserving) silver screen.
(I hadn’t thought about this until I replied to your post…!)
Brintons Carpets also have uploaded a video with shots of the Apollo and (advertorial) background information on the new carpet design.
Zappomatic: Ah! Personally I’d rather flagship/key sites were invested in… bringing up auditoria to “next gen” standards of projection, sound and seating requires major investment…
There were so many multiplexes built within a few years, it’s a little strange to think that they are starting to become like the “fleapits” that so many of the old picture palaces ended up as…
It might be (yet more!) off the mark speculation from my overactive brain, but as Canary Wharf expands North towards Aspen Way it’s getting awfully close to the Cineworld…
I’d be amazed if Billingsgate Market doesn’t move at some point… the adjacent McDonald’s Drive-Thru has been demolished to make way for high rise apartments (with a replacement McDonald’s!) OK, not directly relevant to this site, but it’s a clue on the direction things are moving in the area…
Case study on the installation of “acoustic wall treatments”:
http://www.soundsolutionsltd.co.uk/acoustic-solutions/room-acoustic-case-study2.php
PhilipWW: Definitely! Good place to go even if you’re not seeing a film.
Zappomatic:
Eh?
Wonder what speakers they’re using for Atmos? The SuperScreen had almost as well specified a system as Empire 1 with top-of-the-line JBL ScreenArray screen speakers (dual 18" drivers for the bass section.)
PhilipWW: Forgot to say—I did ask about the 4DX auditorium screen size, but I didn’t get a clear answer.
In terms of width, tricky to do much, e.g. there is a fire exit on the right side etc., unless the screen is moved forward.
4DX has nothing to do with the picture whatsoever, control data is added for the seat movements and FX (lights, smoke, scents, etc.)
According to the British Board of Film Classification:
“The 4DX DCP is identical to the regular DCP that we will have classified in the usual way. So, unlike a 3D or IMAX version of a 2D film, 4DX does not involve a different version of the film. In a 4DX exhibition, the classified DCP plays in parallel with a file containing instructions [for the 4DX seats/equipment.]”
Scans of one from March 1950 can be seen at:
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/EmpireLeicesterSquare/CVProg.htm
theatreofvarieties: Thank you very much, your comments are clearing up a lot of questions that have been floating around in my head!
Of course—I was just curious. :–)
RPG… I shudder to think of the cost… Alas, I can’t find anyone selling them online.
I noticed that feature remained—that solves what was another mystery for me. As a teenager, I had thought they were “hatches” that could be opened to sell concessions!
The small grilles I think are visible in your photos of the strip-out—do these date back to the 1927 auditorium?
I hope you won’t mind if I ask a few more questions…
-In the IMAX auditorium, I assume the “boxing out” beneath the ceiling at the screen end and the “kinks” at the ends of the adjacent curved ceiling section cover up parts of the roof structure?
-The IMAX auditorium I estimate to be 120x90ft. max, with the screen moved forward by 40ft. or so from its position in Empire 1?
-I assume there is no baffle wall in the IMPACT auditorium?
-In UNICK Architects' rendering of the IMPACT auditorium, it shows red LED strips on the sidewalls. Were these originally planned but later dropped?
-It seems that the American Seating Company no longer sell auditorium seating. Do you know the model of the seats used in Empire 1?
Zappomatic: Interesting point, might be because the high frequency dispersion of the screen speakers doesn’t work with a relatively wide auditorium with seating that close to the screen?
Having a quick look at speakers for small auditoria, the specification sheet for the JBL 3678 gives 90deg as the nominal horizontal coverage for the high frequency horn section. So based on that, the side seats in Screen 7 would indeed be outside this for the centre speaker.
Albeit the screen perforations will cause some high frequency spreading, which might help.
OTOH, why would you sit off centre, if you had a choice…? Where possible, I always pre-book centre seats.
I haven’t been to the IMPACT/SuperScreen for a while, but IIRC the picture didn’t have perfectly straight edges, some “barrel” (like a goldfish bowl) distortion.
Whereas the IMAX seems to be perfect in this respect.
When I went there last month, there was still masking in Screen 6. Tabs are still there as well, albeit left open. Was going to go to Screen 5 yesterday to check out the Atmos installation but couldn’t fit it in. :–(
PhilipWW: Empire Cinemas gave the screen sizes as:
IMAX: 26.5mx15.6m = approx. 1.7:1.
IMPACT/SuperScreen: 20.5mx11m = approx. 1.86:1.
I don’t think the IMAX projection quite reaches the top of the screen, but IIRC almost all of the screen was filled for the segments of Dunkirk shot using IMAX 15/70 cameras. The IMAX laser projectors can do 1.4:1.
BTW, Screen 1 is actually the IMPACT/SuperScreen, Screen 3 is the IMAX.
When I spoke to someone from Cineworld (who has worked at the Empire since the UCI days) last month, they told me that the 4DX conversion and foyer refurbishments were the first priority. I walked past the Empire yesterday, I couldn’t see any sign of foyer refurbishment. The 4DX is definitely underway as a month ago progress was at least up to the point of completing the strip-out.
Screen 7 is definitely impressive for the size of the auditorium, I think it’s as big as those much larger auditoria in some other nearby venues, almost the same width as VUE West End Screen 6, if I’m not mistaken.
The IMPACT/SuperScreen definitely needs masking and I can’t understand why it wasn’t installed in the first place.
An upgrade to laser projection would also be good.
Just realised my previous post doesn’t say that the planning application was for a “Sports Cinema Venue.”
Plans for the project can be found on Sutton Council’s website, planning application no. B2017/77471.
Two IMPACT auditoriums are to be included, one an “IMPACT LUXE” (no. 3) and the other an “IMPACT BLUE” (no. 8) (whatever that means?) There will also be a D-BOX auditorium (no. 2.)
Seats to include recliner and sofa premium options, except D-BOX (all recliner?)
Preliminary details follow (pending survey following strip out, acoustic engineer’s report, etc.)
Seat counts: 90, 30, 167, 66, 36, 96, 60, 156, 60, 107 = 868 total, of which 147 are recliners, and 238 are sofas.
Screen sizes:
IMPACT LUXE – 13.95x7.54m. (~46x25ft.)
IMPACT BLUE – 13.16x7.12m.
D-BOX – 7.71x4.17m.
Comparing to the existing plans, existing auditoria 2 and 5 are being converted to IMPACT auditoria, with all other auditoria subdivided to form an additional screen each.
The “flyer” on Empire Cinema’s website says “IMPACT Powered by Dolby Atmos,” so I assume both IMPACT auditoria will be so equipped.
Drawings submitted for planning are by UNICK Architects.
theatreofvarieties: Thank you once again for your very informative posts.
That’s great to hear that Cineworld have a 60 year lease on it—I will be able to sleep easier at night knowing this!
My (clearly outdated) understanding was that the casino held the head lease, expiring 2030, with the cinema subleased.
L&R formally objected to windows being installed (as part of the hotel conversion) on the rear of 1-4 Leicester Sq. as it could compromise future development potential. However, permission was granted permission on appeal. (16/00408/TPCON.)
I wonder what you mean by “[Empire 1] had too many things wrong with it and needed too much money just to keep it in one piece”?
I guess the origin of the tiles shall forever have to remain a mystery! I would, however, be interested in the source of the sintered glass tiles that you said were applied to the existing in 2006?
I have some more arcane questions, if you would be kind enough to answer them.
-My third visit to the IMAX auditorium in 2014 was for a late night screening. I noticed that the room temperature was cycling between hot/cold, although this now seems to have been fixed. Empire 1 always had fantastic air conditioning in my experience. The IMAX clearly has four vents in the ceiling, which I assume are for the return? Empire 1 seemed to have vents just behind the edges of each ceiling “cove” and the set for the cove just ahead of the projection booth can be seen in your photo. So, just wondering what changes, other than raising the ductwork, if any, were made to the air conditioning?
-In your photo of the IMAX auditorium—"New ceiling framework“—there is a black area in the middle of the right curved ceiling section. Slightly confused as I thought it was normal practice to attach stretched fabric to (fixings on) plasterboard, and also acoustic absorption behind the stretched fabric? It doesn’t looks like there’s much space for it.
-Was there insulation above the ceiling in Empire 1? I would have expected that it would be required for THX certification?
Thanks for your reply to my photo of the worn out ceiling, shame no-one will apply flocking in-situ these days, I imagine Health and Safety reasons.
Zappomatic: During my last trip (Dunkirk), I had a look behind the back of the cinema (Lisle Street/Leicester Place), mainly to take photos of urine stains outside the fire exits for amusement value, but I thought perhaps it was getting altogether too silly to upload them!
Anyway, there is a sign by a door on Leicester Place which says “Empire Studios”. (I’ll upload the photo tomorrow.) I don’t remember it being there previously, and it’s not visible on Google Maps Street View.
The relevant planning application is 06/08456/FULL — “Alterations to existing tank room to create additional office space, erection of new tank room and alterations to staircase at roof level, together with erection of canopy above Leicester Place entrance.”
For some reason the documents aren’t available? “Planning Application details not available.”
Anyway, you can see the location of the “tank room” here, in the lower cross-section plan:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publications/pubid-295/images/fig104.gif
(The upper cross-section plan, of course, is for the 1927 auditorium; not sure why the “dome” is included in lower one.)
I imagine it was originally used to house the organ.
Also, there are high level offices behind what was the left hand wall of Empire 1, which I assume are part of Empire Studios.
I recall from the 2006 planning application that Muraspec wall coverings were specified. That stuff retails for, say, £15-30+ per sq. metre… very expensive for wallpaper, so I assume the offices are nicely decorated!
(I thought I might buy some myself… until I realised the price was “per linear metre” (130cm width) and not per roll!)
I imagine it’s a fancy “head office” rather than housing all staff. An embarrassing situation indeed!
Empire Cinemas 2 still exists as an active company, being an indirectly held subsidiary of Cineworld. Looking at Cineworld’s Annual Report 2016, Picturehouse had the same structure, e.g. “City Screen (Cambridge) Limited.” All of those City Screen (aka Picturehouse) subsidiary companies will soon be dissolved, though.
Originally opened with an Iwerks screen, as of 2015 it has been equipped with IMAX Digital in one auditorium. It was one of the first two Vue sites in the UK to have an IMAX screen, Vue being the last major UK operator with no IMAX screens in the UK.
Video of the IMAX screen installation. The video includes seating and flooring installation, screen frame assembly, screen speaker installation, and screen installation.
The screen speakers are not the same as those installed in larger IMAX venues, and there is no “Voice of God” speaker.
There is also plenty of height remaining above the screen!
t still says “Cineworld Cinemas Leicester Square at the Empire Theatre” on Facebook—that’s the only “public” place I’ve seen them use “Empire.” It’s always been Cineworld Leicester Square AFAIK on their website.
The foyer rendering has “Cineworld Empire” on the right vestibule wall.
To be fair, it is confusing to use the word “Empire” when there’s the “Empire Cinemas” chain, plus potential trademark issues.
OTOH, I think it’s pretty clear from the foyer rendering that they are not interested in the heritage aspects, and their annual reports/presentations say that they have achieved their long held ambition of having a flagship West End site. I expect it therefore will continue to be run as a West End flagship, but with Cineworld branding it as their site… “star” logos emblazoned all over.
As long as the Casino is called the “Empire Casino” the Empire name shall remain. Additionally, Empire Cinemas' HQ is still in the same building!
The long term risk may be if owner London + Regional Properties tears the whole building down to make way for a hotel, presumably with downsized leisure areas in the basements. I imagine Cineworld have more leverage than Empire Cinemas to stop the real doomsday scenario…