Somercotes had two cinemas which were also originallyvariety theatres. After they closed one was converted into a nightclub and other businesses and the other into a bingo hall
1. THE EMPIRE CINEMA
The Empire cinema was opened as early as 1912. It is listed in Kelly’s Trade Directory for that year as “The Empire Palace” operated by S. Jaques & Company. Mr. D. Jaques was the General Manager, Mr. Augustus F. Manges the Stage manager and Mr A Vardy the Musical Director. It was trading as the “Empire, Somercotes”.
“The Stage” magazine ran a notice on 15 August 1912 for Alf Grady, a “… Versatile Comedian in Song, Dance and Story …next week, Empire, Somercotes, Derbyshire”, while on 5 December 1912, the same publication reported that “…Baby Violette, the Wonderful Child Artist… performed at the Empire Somercotes”.
In the early years, the Empire seems to have been a venue for many live acts and shows, being more of a variety theatre than a cinema. The original location of the Empire was off Somercotes Hill, standing back from the road. It was probably the same building as used by Everlastic for their first Somercotes factory, and currently by Titan Windows, although with some major alterations.
Examples of some of the acts appearing can be seen from advertisements placed in various publications. “The Era”, an entertainment publication, ran a small notice on 7 October 1914 for Masie Coyne which partly read: “just a comedienne – This week,, Empire, Somercotes, Derbys”. Many advertisements appeared in “The Stage” magazine for the Swan Agency, based at South Normanton. They looked to book variety acts for many theatres, including the Empire, Somercotes (as well as the Premier Electric Theatre).
During the 1920’s the cinema started to overtake variety theatres as the main source of entertainment and more films began to be appear. The Empire also had competition from the Premier Electric Theatre, which was in a much more prominent position on Nottingham Road.
The Empire, possibly to compete with its neighbour, also moved to Nottingham Road, almost across from the Premier. Kelly’s Directory, published in 1925, lists the address of the Empire as Nottingham Road, although it is not certain exactly when the business moved from Somercotes Hill to its new home. The manger in 1925 was Mr F. Leatherland.
The first talking picture was the “Jazz Singer” released in October 1927. The Empire had sound equipment installed in 1930, and the inaugural screening was reported in the Ripley & Heanor News on 4 July that year: “SOMERCOTES. The latest is the installation of talkies at the Empire, the first performance being on Monday last, after being closed for a week. There were two crowded houses and at each performance on Tuesday and Wednesday there was no falling off of patrons. It is evident that the talkies have come to stay, for there is a dual feature now—you have not only to see the pictures, but you have to listen. This is the verdict of one who was present. The Harlie Co., of London, apparatus has been installed, and it produced “The Broadway Melody” in fine style. The installation work has been carried out by Mr. Frank Jowitt, of Ripley”.
The Kinematagraph Year Book, 1931 lists the Empire but offers no further information, although their publication in 1935 lists the proprietor as A.H.& N. Cinema Circuit Ltd, of Southport. In 1936, a change of ownership took place when the Kinematograph Year book records Thomas Dennis as the proprietor. Mr Dennis was the Managing Director of Ollerton Pictures Ltd, which ran several cinemas at the time. The following year, 1937, the same directory lists Ollerton Pictures Ltd as the actual owners, the business having previously been transferred to them. Interestingly, by 1939, the listing in the Kinematograph directory records the Empire at Somercotes as the head office of Ollerton Pictures Ltd.
During the 1930’s and early 1940’s variety acts still appeared at the Empire, although they became fewer in number. The building had a seating capacity of 500, and prices, in 1938, raged from 6d to 1s 3d.
Around the early 1950’s the Ollerton Picture Company also became the proprietors of the Premier at Somercotes, from then on owning both theatres. During this period the Empire continued to stage live performances as well as film and the proximity of the two theatres did not seem to affect either business. By the end of the 1950’s though, the medium of television was becoming more popular and evermore affordable. In the following years, many small village cinemas were closing as audience numbers fell, and the Empire, Somercotes finally closed its doors as a cinema around the mid-1960’s.
Since its closure the building has been refurbished and opened as many different businesses, its first transformation being a short lived indoor roller skating rink.
2. THE WINDMILL BALLROOM & THE CLUB PACIFIC NIGHTCLUB
After major internal renovations, the Empire was converted into the “New Windmill Ballroom", which opened its doors on 17 September 1966. The “Windmill Ballroom” traded for probably less than one year, before it became the “Club Pacific” Nightclub. The “Stage and Television Today” magazine published on 12 October 1967 records the opening:: “The newest club to open its doors is the Club Pacific at Somercotes with exquisite décor, UV lighting and a good food service plus a late licensee, it’s all go. Mr. Greatrex, the boss here is running the club on theatre lines and here again its only weekend live shows, but full weeks will be put in when the time is ripe, and indications show this is not far off”.
The Stage also ran a small article in its magazine on 14 November 1968, which read: “Dark nights bring back the “live” scene to the “Club Pacific”, Somercotes. Owner/agent Harry Greatorex is now presenting the “Late Date Show” from 11pm Saturday to 2am Sunday. This offering is aimed at the very late night-outers, bone-fide bookers’ and agents, and names listed so far include Teddy Alexander, Dennis Daniels, Alicia Dells, Ray King, Marion Walker, Dace and Carol etc. Meal service is laid on and a real “show-biz” gathering is promised.”
Although the “Club Pacific” traded for several years, around 1971 it became the “New Pacific”, under new owners Robert Else and Derek Sutton. Several small advertisements appeared in The Stage magazine for the years 1972 and 1973. An article published in the magazine on 24 May 1973 reads: “Up the road at Somercotes the NEW PACIFIC NIGHTSPOT had another in the “STAR TIME” series, and this one featured a return (by public demand) of the delightful colleen herself, RUBY MURRAY, whose fan following in the parish must be astronomical. In fact co-owners, BOB ELSE and DEREK SUTTON are now trying to book her for a third time this year…”
The “New Pacific Club” continued trading until the late 1970s, although by 1974, it was advertising itself as a “Disco-Dine” club. It was listed as such in the local telephone directories between 1974 and 1977.
By the late 1970s, the “New Pacific Club” had become more or less a discotheque. The exact date and circumstances of its closure are not known, but it seems by that time the owner was Rudolph Saunders. His name appears in the London Gazette, relating to the premises – “... previously carrying on business from The New Pacific Club, 207 Nottingham Road, Somercotes, Derbyshire, as a CLUB PROPRIETOR … Date of Order—27th September 1979. Date of Filing Petition—16th May 1979”.
3. THE LATER YEARS
In later years the building which originally housed the Empire has had a chequered history. After the nightclub closed, it was converted into an indoor market, and then taken over by Creswell’s Supermarket. Creswell’s continued in business for several years, but the change in shopping habits and the increase in large supermarket brands finally took their toll. In the 1990’s the building’s façade was changed large windows installed. It became the home of Somercotes Office Furniture for many years.
When Somercotes Office Furniture moved to new premises in 2015, the building became Carp Scene, an angling superstore which started life as “The Tackle Box” on Somercotes Hill, many years previous.
ADVERTISMENT: An advert for the opening of the New Windmill Ballroom in September 1966
4. THE PREMIER ELECTRIC THEATRE
The Premier Electric Theatre opened on 1st January 1912. The building fronted Nottingham Road, at the junction with Victoria Street. Although it originally held only 300 patrons, it was soon extended to hold over 1,000. At the time the proprietor was George Beastall, a local entrepreneur who also owned the wines and spirits business at Oporto House. The first projectionist was Charles Lewsley.
The centre of the proscenium arch had a crest containing the initials “A.B.B”. This stood for Annie Bertha Beatsall, the wife of the proprietor, who presided over the cash desk. Admission prices were 2d for plain seats, 4d for leather seats and 6d for velvet armchairs.
When originally built the entrance to the auditorium was through an old-fashioned shop frontage, which can be seen in old photographs. This was replaced during the 1930s with a modern frontage for the time. A large cinema for the area it served, the Premier Electric Theatre had by then some 1,180 seats.
PHOTO: Premier Electric Theatre c.1912
George Beastall owned the cinema until the mid-1940s, when Goodman Cinemas of Lenton, Nottingham took over, followed in 1947 by the Ilkeston Cinema Company. The name changed to the Premier Cinema about this time.
Sometime within the following few years the Premier Cinema was again sold, and purchased by the Ollerton Picture Company, which also at the time owned the Empire, virtually across the street.
Probably because the Premier Cinema was a much larger building and the auditorium was more suited, the owners of Ollerton Pictures installed a stereo sound system and cinemascope in 1954. The significance of this development cannot be exaggerated. The Premier Cinema became, for a while, the only cinema in the area outside of Derby to have this facility, and people travelled over considerable distances to experience this new technology. In an age when there was only one black and white television channel, cinema audiences were much larger than today, and the Premier Cinema regularly sold out at all performances during this period.
PHOTO: Premier Electric Theatre c.1929
According to various sources, the cinema was badly damaged by a firework on the night of 5 November 1960. The damage caused was so extensive it never reopened as a cinema.
The Premier was eventually sold by the Dennis family to Walker’s Bingo Clubs, and after some extensive refurbishment was opened as a Bingo Hall in 1974. The building remained under the ownership of Walker’s until it was closed on 9 November 2013.
The building has a large sign on the side wall facing Victoria Street proclaiming the PREMIER ELECTRIC THEATRE, harking back to happier times.
As of 2016, the building is closed and awaits its fate in the hands of developers.
PHOTO: (Below) Walker’s Bingo Club, Day of Closing 9 November 2013