Screentrade Magazine Will Have Insights And Maybe A Photo Or Two

This post is from February 2007.

The Empire Cinema was built just before WW1. In its time it was used for many types of performance, not just film, for example: opera, musicals, school concerts and music hall.

Having been born in 1945 I twice a week walked to the cinema from Unthank Terrace, New Brancepeth, during the years 1952 and 1953.The half a crown that I got from my generous grandparents every Sunday funded two sixpenny performances – with lots of change to spare for ice cream.

The first film might involve a plot in stunning Africa and then later in the week I thrilled at the wagon train threatened by the Apache nation or some other tribe. When the drums stopped it did not look good for the wagon train! My favourite actor was Jimmy Stewart – he was a fine real life war hero as well as an actor.

Looking back I can see that some of the films were blatant propaganda, for example the Red Indians were just fighting to retain land that was rightfully their own. The cavalry [including John Wayne's character if applicable] were agents of the American state and in the wrong. That of course was too subtle for an eight year old.

In about 1957 the Empire seats were reupholstered. The result was a fine gold colour and really posh.

I always found it difficult to decide whether or not to dash out of the cinema when God save the Queen was played at the end of the performance.Most people did dash out. I think I stayed in my seat for about 75% of the time.I stayed out of some vague respect for the monarchy [all a bit Victorian and Edwardian I suppose].

I do recall, that as an eight year old, I felt that the ‘older’ women that entered the cinema seemed rather tired and wan, despite their careful Saturday make-up. I suppose that was down to their daily responsibilities, lack of a washing machine ,lack of a hoover and a need to be awake all hours to attend to their shift working husband and sons who were coming or going to the mine.

I bet many romances started or were enhanced by the cinema experience. I know that Jack and Doris Easter met at the Empire in the early 1940s. Jack asked whether he could climb over some seats to sit in the last available seat in the cinema. Next to him he found Doris, his future wife.

There is an account of the history of the Ushaw Moor Empire in the Spring 2004 edition of the ‘Screentrade’ magazine. As it would cost seven pounds and fifty pence, including postage and packaging to get it, I have declined to do so. Still I hope we have got by with this article.

WB