Brixton Empress Theatre/Granada Cinema

[editor]

It's such a shame that this wonderful old music hall on the corner of Brighton Terrace and Bernay's Grove was demolished in 1992. Anyone ever visit?

Video of 1957 reopening here:
http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2014/05/...the-new-granada-cinema-opens-in-brixton-1957/

 

[mxh]

I remember it as a bingo hall before that block of flats went up early 90s.

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

Wow, i don't remember that building at all, no trace in my memory.

 

[boohoo]

It had a different frontage post 1930s. I have a vague recollection of the building. It would be nice to thing if the same decision was being made today to remove the building it would be kept, however the removal of the Dalston Theatre in Dalston lane a few years ago suggests that if something isn't protected by listing, it's easy to get rid of it and build new flats.

 

[peterkro]

I used to pick up change there when it was a bingo hall.
Then it was empty for some time,some of the people associated with the fridge were going to do a one off New Years Eve party there so I spent some time inside the building checking out the possibility.In the end it wasn't possible because of the cost of emergency lighting and bringing it up to safety standards.It was beautiful building and still had loads of the original features.When the bingo hall closed they just left all the fittings and so on in there,everything up to and including a huge standby generator that must have been worth £10,000,s.There was a huge steel fire safety curtain for the stage which was still in place and appeared to be fully functional.

 

[OvalhouseDB]

I remember it as a Bingo Hall, too. Or maybe a closed Bingo hall. Shame about the building.
There used to be 7 theatres in Brixton.

 

[footballerslegs]

I never knew the building itself but a few years ago I picked up an amazing listings poster for the Empress from (apparently) 1945. I'm trying to upload a pic which may or may not have worked in this post... If not, I'll keep trying!

 

[footballerslegs]

Bugger.

 

[editor]

Bugger.

Mail it to me if you like...

 

[footballerslegs]

Mail it to me if you like - urban75 (at) gmail. com

Done!

 

[editor]

 

[editor]

That's a fabulous poster. What's year is it from?

 

[footballerslegs]

It's apparently from 1945. It doesn't state the date on the poster itself but I got it from a market stall on Station Road ran by some guys involved with the Brixton Society, so I take their word for it. Sorry the quality of the pic is shoddy - my favourite act, in case it's difficult to read from the pic, is 'SPOLDI & PARIL in a Screaming and Original Comedy Sensation in Mid Air'. The mind boggles.

 

[editor]

In case anyone hasn't seen it, there's more on the Empress here:

http://www.urban75.org/brixton/history/empress.html

Imagine going to this night!

http://www.urban75.org/brixton/history/empress1.html

 

[bobbywec]

Went to the Empress many times as a kid in 1940s and 1950s. One of the strangest shows was Peter Bough with Archie Andrews. A ventriloquist being watched from the Gods (gallery) now guess you'd call it upper circle. It was a long way up. Also went couple of times when it became the Granada Cinema.

 

[editor]

I'm planning a very special night in tribute to the Empress in the summer. Watch this space!

 

[Daisy May]

I used to be in shows here when I was a little girl in the early 50s. and remember it quite well. I still have photographs of the shows.

 

[editor]

I used to be in shows here when I was a little girl in the early 50s. and remember it quite well. I still have photographs of the shows.

Fancy sharing some here?

 

[Daisy May]

Hope you like the photo's

 

[Daisy May]

 

[Daisy May]

 

[Daisy May]

 

[editor]

View attachment 126091

Lovely pics!
What was the show?

I wish I'd been able to visit the Empress. What was it inside?

 

[Daisy May]

 

[Daisy May]

I was in several shows. One was the Nativity, I can't remember the others, I was only about seven at the time. I can still remember where I am in the photo's and having make-up put on, and the costumes. Can't really remember what the inside was like.