Empire Picture Palace
19 Church Street,
Blaenau Ffestiniog,
LL41 3HB
19 Church Street,
Blaenau Ffestiniog,
LL41 3HB
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The Empire Picture Palace was originally the Co-operative Hall of 1883. It became a cinema in the 1920’s. It was still open in 1944, but had gone from listings in 1947. This long closed cinema is still fondly remembered by many older people living in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
There was talk about it re-opening as a cinema in 1995, but nothing came of this plan, and the building was in use as a furniture store for over 30 years. In recent years it became a squash club, but this had closed by 2017.
Contributed by
Editha Pearce
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Recent comments (view all 31 comments)
Guys, Enough is enough of this personal squabble. The last 10 comments have nothing to do with the Empire Picture Palace, so please get back onto subject.
I have loaded a picture of the Empire showing the overhanging Projection Box
Thanks for the picture Mike, I’ve never been inside the building but I did know of the overhanging projection box.I had wondered if it may have been the extension on the right (although it’s not in the centre) I had no idea of the length ot the auditorium and although the slate roof comes down the other end it has to be longer than that. I’d like to go inside, but Blaenau is not a town I often visit,because it’s not a place you have to go near when travelling from Pwllheli to other places. if you know what I mean,I’m sure it’s still unused.
Pity we cannot make out the films displayed on the posters.
I seen the interior of Cinema After the Arrest of Peter Moore.. I had the Job of retrieving all the Film Prints for the film renters from all of MOORES cinemas. All it need was a Westrex Tower and it could have opened.. But I think it would have been a total waste of time doing so… I had considered Holyhead but this was to g=far from my other Cinema Interests
I saw a news item on Welsh tv when there was local interest in trying to reopen it, but nothing came of that, I was told by our service engineer that equipment had been installed, as I beleive Moore had inquired to him about parts. Whereabouts are your cinemas Mike ?
Was In Birmingham. Capitol and Plaza Stockand Green.. and the last one.. Savoy Theatre Monmouth… Monmouth I retired 2007 Family had Theatre – Cinema Interests from 1890’s onwards.. Based in Walsall..
Post Script. That is how I ended up with most of the pics… I have put on here.. plus ABc’s Head office visits :o)
When I visited in March 2017, a local resident told me the former cinema had been used as a squash club until its recent closure.
A very good view of this building can be found on Google Earth street view, without the projecting projection box but with doors and Co-op stone date of erection sign sill visible.