The Empire Theatre, Rotherham

The theatre opened on Monday 15 December 1913 and was equipped to show film presentations as part of its programming. It was constructed by George Longdon and Son of Sheffield, and designed by Chadwick and Watson of Leeds, who also designed the earlier Hippodrome in Rotherham as well as the Empire in Dewsbury and Alhambra in Bradford. In 1921, the theatre's auditorium was altered for full-time cinema use and it reopened on 2 May as the Empire Picture House. In 1954, the theatre was taken over by Essoldo and Cinemascope was installed. Classic Cinemas took charge of the building in 1972.