The New Empire Theatre was built in 1896 by theatre impresario Frederick Marlow. He had bought the Public Hall which stood on the site in 1894, refurbishing and improving the hall and making it into a venue for Music Hall and plays. He was in the middle of putting forward plans for further improvements when, in January 1895, a fire broke out and destroyed the theatre. Frederick Marlow then embarked on the massive task of re-building his beloved theatre. By March 1896, he had built the most luxurious and majestic theatre in Southend at that time, having invested £20,000 of his own money.
Marlow stayed at the Empire, which on its re-opening in 1896 was called the New Empire Theatre, and ran it with his son, William Marlow junr. until 1905 when, as a local newspaper reported, he "severed all connections with the theatre".
The theatre was taken over by the Southend-on-Sea Theatre Company (1905) Ltd, and went on to be leased to several different owners including local musician Adam Seebold and a highly successful illusionist, The Great Rameses, AKA Albert Marchinski. In 1919, with the advent of the ever growing moving picture industry, the Empire closed its doors and was sold to the Rivoli Picture House chain. |
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