The history of the Empire Theatre in Preston reflects all the changes in 20th century culture and entertainment. Beginning as a music hall and ending as a short lived bingo hall, the Empire went through many guises.
Unfortunately the building in Church Street lasted less than a century and was demolished in 1976. The Empire Theatre opened in 1911, when music hall acts were popular. You could pay 4d to see such wonders as clog dancing, singers and comedians.
The wealthy could pay 10s 6d for a four seat box, equivalent to more than £100 today!
It was a large theatre, with seating for 2,500 people. Films were shown from the beginning, between the acts. The Blackburn film company of Mitchell and Kenyon made films of local people and these would have been shown here.
Source: Preston’s Empire Theatre, a palace of dreams? | Blog Preston