Empire Cinema Church Street Eccles

Originally named the Eccles Picture Theatre, it was the first building in the town to be erected for the sole purpose of showing films; the first proper picture house in the town. The site for the cinema,  on  the  corner  of Church  Street  and Corporation Street was  then  known  as  the "Insanitary  Area", this being a reminder of the slum dwellings of the infamous Timothy Street, demolished in 1904. The cinema was designed by John Knight, the builders were Messrs J T Hollinworth & Sons of Patricroft. The directors were a syndicate of local residents, Robert Clayton being the chairman. The building was described as follows: 

The front elevation is after the Georgian style of architecture, with Accrington facings and terra‑cotta dressings similar to that of the Carnegie Library. Special attention has been paid to the ventilation, heating, lighting and sanitary arrangements. No expense has been spared upon the internal decorations and furnishings, being decorated in white and pale green, with plush chairs and seats, also ample safety exits with an iron sheet separating the operating box from the main theatre."

The cinema was officially opened on Friday 28th June 1912 by  the  Mayor  of  Eccles,  Mr Scott Forbes, and attended by specially invited members of the Council and principal residents of the borough. The Mayor was presented with a silver key by the directors and made  the following  speech:  "When the patrons looked at the chaste decorations, the fine breathing space, the  comfortable seating and ample exits they would all agree that that place of entertainment must become a great a great attraction to the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, He did not share the view that picture houses were a passing craze, but on the other hand believed  that the form of entertainment was only in its infancy. It was only a short time ago that the first films were shown, shadowy, shaky and indistinct. Comparing them with the beautiful pictures they had today, they must come to the conclusion that an invention that  has   made  such  rapid strides in a few years was only at the beginning of a great career. It was an entirely new form of entertainment and superior to the theatre in many respects. The cinematograph showed more accurately things that were taking place and historical events could be presented more impressively. It combined Instruction with amusement and its possibilities were illimitable in bringing to the view of the public, scenes that were most distant, whether of the tropics or the Arctic regions. Another recommendation was that the entertainment was cheap." In 1913 the Eccles Picture Theatre boasted in the Journal that "This theatre is perfectly ventilated, cleaned daily by the vacuum process and disinfected with Jeyes Fluid."

In March 1916 the Eccles Picture Theatre changed its name to the more grandiose "Empire". The cinema was redecorated, new safety doors were fitted, and new seating and a "sanitary floor" laid.  Sound equipment was installed in 1932, making it the last cinema in Eccles to go "talkie." Damaged in the Blitz of Christmas 1940, it was never to re-open as a cinema.

Reference : Tony Flynn, Cinemas of Eccles