New Empire - Another old single screen cinema surviving in South Mumbai.The Empire Theatre was designed in a Baroque style by architect Arthur Payne, with internal decorations by the local firm O'Connor & Gerald. It opened as a live theatre on 21st February 1908. Seating was provided for 1,000, in orchestra stalls, circle & gallery levels, and there were also boxes with additional seating. It had a large fully equipped stage. There was a domed ceiling, and it was said to be the first theatre in Asia to be constructed with a cantilevered balcony.
Films were being screened from 1920, alternating with live shows, and by the 1930's, it was converted into a full time cinema. It was re-named New Empire Cinema in 1937.
It was re-modeled in 1948 by British architect M.A. Riddley Abbott, who gave it the splendid Art Deco style seen today. The New Empire Cinema was taken over by 20th Century Fox Corp. in 1955 and was the Bombay showcase cinema for their films.
Renovation was carried out in 1996, and the cinema was returned to its former glory, with the interior being one of the finest Art Deco style interiors in Mumbai. The New Empire Cinema screens first run Western films, dubbed into Hindi, and East Indian films. The make the single screen viable, three or four different films are screened each day.
Info sourced from here
Nice to know the history of the New Empire Cinema.
ReplyDeleteFascinating history and post for the day!!
ReplyDeleteVery nice post. Very informative.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
il est magnifique ce cinema , une superbe architecture
ReplyDeleteI love restored cinemas! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteLooks like what we used to have here. Nowadays cinemas are in the same building as mega malls. No longer was it big and spacious , instead there's a few screening rooms with a different movies being shown.
ReplyDeleteinteresting history. gosh, i should take photos of our art decor buildings here before they are finally demolished.:(
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting post today:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place...reminds me of my growing-up years...so glad that it has been maintained and renovated. We have a similar theater in downtown Ocala which is once again showing first-run films! Yeah!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like there are a lot of these old cinemas in Mumbai. I hope they keep them.
ReplyDeleteyet another treasure of our common heritage. Many thanks for the history behind the architecture.
ReplyDeleteAh! we also a few single screen cinema halls in Delhi. In fact you can still watch a movie in 60 bucks at these halls. I watch all my movies in these halls coz they are as good as a PVR and so cheap! :)
ReplyDeleteA real mumbaiker-well described place!
ReplyDeleteGreat to know the history of an old place!
ReplyDeleteThese days it takes much effort to sustain single screens. But the movie experience there is much better than the multiplexes
ReplyDeletenice to know about this place
ReplyDeletenice to know about this place
ReplyDeleteGreat to know the history of an old place!
ReplyDeleteyet another treasure of our common heritage. Many thanks for the history behind the architecture.
ReplyDelete