Empire Cinema

Located in Blyth, Northumberland, on the corner of Beaconsfield Street and Carlton Street. The Empire Electric Picture Palace was opened on 4th September 1911. It had an attractive tower feature above the corner entrance, and the building was designed by architectural firm Gibson & Stienlet of North Shields. Seating was provided on a stadium plan, with a raised stepped section at the rear, rather than an overhanging balcony.

In around 1929 it was equipped with a British Talking Pictures(BTP) sound system. It was taken over by Solomon (Sol) Sheckman in 1935, who was beginning to build up his circuit of Essoldo cinemas, based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The Empire Cinema was closed on 7th August 1937, and was demolished to build the 1,700-seat, Art Deco style Essoldo on the site (which has its own page on Cinema Treasures). That too has now been demolished and a new Methodist Church has been built on the site.

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