SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Anyone got a date when EMPIRE THEATRE closed in the 50s . Also the old theatre royal.

This is from LEODIS.....In order to compete successfully with television, theatre companies were putting on increasingly spectacular shows like the Liberace show in 1960. The stage at the Empire was too small to accommodate these, and in 1960 Moss Empires planned to replace the Empire with another, larger theatre elsewhere in Leeds. This never happened and in August 1960 the Leeds Planning committee approved an application from Industrial and Investment Services Limited for change of use to shops and offices.Despite this the 1960-61 Christmas pantomime went ahead, and played to packed houses. It was Emile Littler's 'Babes in the Wood', and starred Nat Jackley. On the last night, 25th February 1961, at the end of the performance, Nat Jackley doffed his Dame's wig, and said that, 'when you say goodbye to a friend you always take your hat off'. The audience sang 'Auld Lang Syne', and the theatre closed after nearly 63 years.The theatre was demolished in 1962, and replaced by the Empire Arcade. It is now the site of Harvey Nicholls department store.

So is this....The Theatre Royal had a long tradition of pantomime. In 1897-98 two pantomimes were put on, Babes in the Wood followed by Cinderella. Edith St. Clair was the Principal Boy in Babes in the Wood.The Bradford theatre manager Francis Laidler leased the theatre in 1909, which was re-decorated for Laidler's first Christmas production, 'Babes in the Wood', starring Florrie Ford. Under Laidler's management, the Theatre Royal became famous for its pantomimes which were considered to be the most successful in the north of England. In 1945 Humpty Dumpty ran for a record 22 weeks.In 1957 Francis Laidler died, leaving his wife to run the theatre. She carried on for two more years, but was forced to sell the theatre in 1959. It was bought by Schofields, and demolished two months later. The site is now part of the Headrow Shopping Centre.

salt 'n pepper wrote: So is this....The Theatre Royal had a long tradition of pantomime. In 1897-98 two pantomimes were put on, Babes in the Wood followed by Cinderella. Edith St. Clair was the Principal Boy in Babes in the Wood.The Bradford theatre manager Francis Laidler leased the theatre in 1909, which was re-decorated for Laidler's first Christmas production, 'Babes in the Wood', starring Florrie Ford. Under Laidler's management, the Theatre Royal became famous for its pantomimes which were considered to be the most successful in the north of England. In 1945 Humpty Dumpty ran for a record 22 weeks.In 1957 Francis Laidler died, leaving his wife to run the theatre. She carried on for two more years, but was forced to sell the theatre in 1959. It was bought by Schofields, and demolished two months later. The site is now part of the Headrow Shopping Centre. Wasn't the cafe in Schofields called "Cafe Royal" in honour of the theatre?

In the Cross Arcade half way down the Victoria Quarter you can still see, over Harvey Nichols back door, the name "Empire Palace" in the brickwork - I'm glad that this remains, even though I do shed a tear each time I see it - I loved the Empire Theatre.

BLAKEY wrote: In the Cross Arcade half way down the Victoria Quarter you can still see, over Harvey Nichols back door, the name "Empire Palace" in the brickwork - I'm glad that this remains, even though I do shed a tear each time I see it - I loved the Empire Theatre. I never went there. Or the Theatre Royal. I went to the City Varieties when it was fairly notorious - saw Jimmy Tarbuck there before he became (in)famous. The only Empire I remember going to was the one in Dewsbury - but I don't remember much about it. I do seem to remember the Leeds Empire advertsing shows in the Yorkshire Evening News that were sponsored by various consumer goods companies - or have I imagined it?

Theatre Royal. Opened 2nd October 1826. Sold to Schofields in 1956 and demolished and replaced by Schofields furnishing store.

Empire Theatre was opened on 29th August 1898. A popular music hall of the stoll moss variety, the Empire Theatre was closed on the 25th February 1961 and demolished in January 1962 to become the Empire Arcade and then the site of Harvey Nichols first store outside London.

The Laidler pantomimes at the Royal were incredibly spectacular. They often featured a "Flying Ballet" where brave young ladies flew out over the audience on scarcely visible harnesses and cascaded flowers over us. They had more guts than me, and to a little lad it was quite simply miraculous.

I saw Cliff Richards and the 'Drifters' at the Empire about 1959/60. All I can remember is Cliff's pink jacket and the Drifters (for the uninitiated - later the Shadows) playing a Peggy Sue before Cliff came on.