Empire Cinema
13 Station Square,
Whitby,
YO21 1DU
13 Station Square,
Whitby,
YO21 1DU
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Star Cinemas
Architects: A.E. Young
Functions: Retail
Previous Names: Empire Electric Theatre, New Empire Cinema
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The Empire Electric Theatre in Station Square was the plushest of Whitby’s three movie houses. Built of brick dressed with Portland stone it stood opposite both the railway and bus stations.
Its 657 seats were split between stalls and balcony. It opened in the Autumn of 1914. In 1930 it was refurbished and a Fitton & Haley 2Manual/5Ranks organ was installed, which was opened by organist John Dalton. It was then known as the New Empire Cinema.
In 1955 the Empire Cinema was taken over by the Leeds based Star Cinemas chain. In 1974, it was taken over by an independent operator. The Empire Cinema was closed on 28th September 1983 with “Flashdance”. It was converted into a department store. Nothing from its cinema past remains inside.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
the empire was still open as a cinema in 1979.