Chiswick Empire

The Chiswick Empire was a large entertainment venue that stood opposite Turnham Green on Chiswick High Road in west London. It opened in September 1912 and operated until June 1959, first primarily as a variety and music-hall theatre, later briefly as a cinema, and finally again as a live-performance venue. Although the building no longer survives, the Empire occupies an important place in the entertainment history of Chiswick because it presented touring performers from Britain and abroad across several generations. The venue originated in a proposal made in 1910 by theatre proprietor and manager Oswald Stoll. The plan prompted a public dispute. Some residents considered a music hall inappropriate for what they regarded as a relatively select residential district, while others objected to the social effects of popular entertainment. Support for the project was nevertheless substantial, including a petition carrying approximately 2,000 signatures. Permission was granted, and construction at 414 Chiswick High Road required the removal of several existing shops and a local smithy. The building was designed by the prominent theatre architect Frank Matcham. Its interior was described as Jacobean in style, with similarities to the London Palladium. The auditorium had capacity for approximately 1,948 people: 890 seats in the stalls, 454 in the dress circle, and 554 in the balcony and boxes. The stage had a 44-foot proscenium opening, an orchestra pit for 15 musicians, and ten dressing rooms. A sliding roof was included as a technical novelty, although it was rarely used and reportedly released accumulated dust into the auditorium when opened. The Empire began with a variety bill and subsequently hosted music hall, revues, plays, opera, pantomime and occasional film screenings. Its guest list included major popular entertainers and theatrical figures of the period. George Formby, Marie Lloyd, Vesta Tilley, Gladys Cooper, Clara Butt, Grock, Tommy Handley, Charles Hawtrey, Sybil Thorndike, Vera Lynn, Arthur Askey, Laurel and Hardy, Chico Marx, Tommy Cooper, Julie Andrews, Morecambe and Wise, Ken Dodd, Peter Sellers, Cliff Richard and Liberace were among those associated with the venue at different points in its history. The theatre suffered a serious fire on 19 August 1913 while it was empty. The blaze destroyed the stage and damaged the auditorium. It was attributed to suffragette arson after oil had been spread through parts of the interior. Restoration reportedly cost £12,000, and the building reopened about three months later with the play The Miracle. During the First World War it also hosted charitable events, including appearances by Clara Butt and a concert attended by Queen Alexandra in aid of the Chiswick Memorial Homes. In the 1920s the Empire presented twice-nightly variety alongside revues, drama and opera. In 1932 its management attempted to convert the venue to full-time cinema operation, installing a Western Electric sound system. The experiment proved unsuccessful. Live theatre returned in October 1933, with films thereafter generally restricted to Sundays when live performances were prohibited. The venue closed at the beginning of the Second World War along with theatres across Britain, but reopened toward the end of 1941. After the war, the Empire continued to rely on touring stars, seasonal pantomimes and mixed entertainment bills. Its final engagement was a week of performances by the American pianist and entertainer Liberace. The Chiswick Empire closed on 29 June 1959 and was demolished within a month. Empire House, an office building, was later constructed on the site. The venue was subsequently remembered through cultural references, including the 1983 Channel 4 television play Hollywood Hits Chiswick and a 2017 mural by Sir Peter Blake beneath the railway arches at Turnham Green tube station. The mural depicted artists connected with the Empire and helped preserve its memory in the local area.

The Chiswick Empire developed from Oswald Stoll's 1910 proposal for a music hall on Chiswick High Road opposite Turnham Green. The project generated controversy because some local residents believed that a large popular-entertainment venue would be unsuitable for an affluent residential district. Critics also expressed class-based concerns about music halls and their perceived effect on household thrift. The proposal nevertheless secured enough support to proceed, including a petition signed by about 2,000 people. The building was erected at 414 Chiswick High Road, with existing shops and a smithy removed to make space. Frank Matcham, one of Britain's leading theatre architects, designed the Empire. The auditorium was decorated in a Jacobean manner and was compared stylistically with the London Palladium. It accommodated about 1,948 people across the stalls, dress circle, balcony and eight boxes. The stage included a 44-foot proscenium, a 15-musician orchestra pit and ten dressing rooms. A sliding roof was installed as an innovation, though it was rarely opened and had the unfortunate practical effect of releasing dust into the auditorium. The Chiswick Empire opened on 2 September 1912 with a variety programme. Variety and music hall remained its principal identity, but the venue also hosted plays, revues, opera, concerts and seasonal pantomimes. Its programme connected Chiswick to the national touring circuit. Early performers included George Formby Sr, Gladys Cooper, Marie Lloyd, Vesta Tilley and Clara Butt. In January 1917, Clara Butt appeared in charitable matinees, and Queen Alexandra attended a concert supporting the Chiswick Memorial Homes. A major interruption came on 19 August 1913, when a fire broke out while the theatre was unoccupied. The stage was destroyed and the auditorium suffered extensive damage. The fire was attributed to suffragette militants, who had reportedly spread oil through parts of the interior before ignition. Restoration cost approximately £12,000, and the theatre reopened after about three months with a production of The Miracle. During the 1920s the Empire expanded its programme with twice-nightly variety, revues, plays and opera. Grock appeared in 1921, the Ben Greet company presented Shakespeare, and performers such as Wee Georgie Wood, Tommy Handley and Charles Hawtrey appeared. The 1930s included a production of The Distaff Side with Sybil Thorndike, performances by the Carl Rosa Opera Company and a 1931 engagement by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. In 1932, under new management, the Empire was converted to full-time cinema operation after a Western Electric sound system was installed. The change was inspired by the financial performance of another theatre that had made a similar transition, but it did not work well at Chiswick. By October 1933 the venue had returned to live theatre. Films continued to be shown on Sundays, when live theatrical performances were not permitted. The theatre closed at the beginning of the Second World War as part of the nationwide closure of theatres. It reopened toward the end of 1941 and resumed presenting popular touring entertainment. The post-war period brought some of the venue's most recognizable names, including Laurel and Hardy on their first British tour in 1947 and again in 1954, Chico Marx in 1949, and a succession of British variety and music stars in the 1950s. Pantomime remained an important part of the annual calendar, with appearances by Dorothy Ward and Shaun Glenville in Jack and the Beanstalk in 1949 and Alma Cogan in Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in 1955. The Empire's final performance period featured Liberace. It closed on 29 June 1959 and was demolished within a month. Empire House, an office building, replaced the theatre. Later remembrance included the 1983 Channel 4 television play Hollywood Hits Chiswick, which imagined W. C. Fields returning to the area and encountering a supermarket on the former site. In 2017, artist Sir Peter Blake, who had lived in Chiswick since 1957 and had seen Max Miller at the Empire, created a large collage beneath the Turnham Green railway arches. The work included numerous artists connected with the venue and turned its legacy into a public local-history artwork.

• 2017

  Public mural preserves the venue's memory

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Peter Blake created a mural beneath the Turnham Green tube station arches depicting performers associated with the Chiswick Empire.

• 1959

  Closure and demolition

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  The Chiswick Empire closed on 29 June after a final week of Liberace performances. It was demolished within a month and replaced by Empire House.

• 1947

  Laurel and Hardy's first British tour at the Empire

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  Laurel and Hardy appeared at the venue during their first British tour.

• 1941

  Reopening during the Second World War

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  After closing at the start of the war with theatres throughout Britain, the Empire reopened toward the end of 1941.

• 1933

  Return to live theatre

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema experiment was judged unsuccessful, and the Empire resumed live theatre in October. Films were retained for Sundays.

• 1932

  Conversion to cinema

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  The venue installed a Western Electric sound system and changed to full-time cinema operation under new management.

• 1917

  Charitable performances attended by Queen Alexandra

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  Clara Butt gave charity matinees, and Queen Alexandra attended a concert supporting the Chiswick Memorial Homes.

• 1913

  Fire and restoration

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  A fire on 19 August destroyed the stage and damaged the auditorium. After extensive restoration, the venue reopened about three months later with The Miracle.

• 1912

  Chiswick Empire opens

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre opened on 2 September with a variety programme. Designed by Frank Matcham, it had seating for approximately 1,948 people.

• 1910

  Proposal for a Chiswick music hall

  [1]Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org

  Theatre proprietor Oswald Stoll proposed building a music hall on Chiswick High Road opposite Turnham Green. The proposal prompted public debate but ultimately received permission.

A major local touring theatre positioned between a traditional music hall and a large metropolitan entertainment venue, offering accessible popular entertainment alongside drama, opera, pantomime, concerts and occasional cinema screenings.

• Live entertainment · 1912

  Variety and music-hall programmes

  The Empire's core offering was touring variety and music-hall entertainment, often presented in twice-nightly programmes. These bills brought comedians, singers, specialty acts and popular entertainers to Chiswick, including performers such as Marie Lloyd, Vesta Tilley, George Formby, Tommy Cooper and Arthur Askey.

• Theatre · 1912

  Drama, revues and opera

  Although established as a variety venue, the Empire also presented plays, revues and opera. Its bookings included a Shakespeare season by the Ben Greet company, Sybil Thorndike in The Distaff Side, the Carl Rosa Opera Company and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

• Seasonal theatre · 1915

  Christmas pantomimes

  Annual Christmas pantomimes were a recurring feature of the Empire's programme. Notable associated performers included George Formby Sr in 1915, Dorothy Ward and Shaun Glenville in Jack and the Beanstalk in 1949, and Alma Cogan in Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in 1955.

• Cinema · 1932

  Cinema screenings

  The Empire briefly operated as a full-time cinema after the installation of a Western Electric sound system in 1932. The conversion was unsuccessful, and from 1933 films were generally limited to Sundays alongside the return of live theatre.

• Concert venue · 1917

  Concerts and charitable matinees

  The venue hosted concerts and charity performances in addition to commercial entertainment. Clara Butt performed charitable matinees in 1917, and a concert attended by Queen Alexandra supported the Chiswick Memorial Homes.

• 1913

  Suffragette fire at the theatre

  A fire broke out in the empty theatre on 19 August. The blaze destroyed the stage and damaged the auditorium; it was attributed to suffragette arson after oil had been spread through much of the interior.

  Source

Read more

• 2017Peter Blake Chiswick Empire mural

  Chiswick · London

  Sir Peter Blake created a collage mural beneath the railway arches at Turnham Green tube station showing singers, actors, comedians and music-hall performers associated with the former theatre.

  Outcome. Prints of the mural were sold to raise funds for redevelopment of the nearby piazza area, while the artwork provided a permanent public memorial to the venue.

  Source
• 1910Local petition supporting the theatre proposal

  Chiswick · London

  During the public debate over Oswald Stoll's proposed music hall, supporters organized a petition that attracted approximately 2,000 signatures and helped demonstrate local backing for the project.

  Outcome. Permission was granted and the theatre was constructed on Chiswick High Road.

  Source

• 1959

  Closure and demolitionOther

  Background

  After decades of variety, theatre, music and occasional cinema, the venue reached the end of its operating life.

  Action taken

  The Empire closed after Liberace's final week of performances and was demolished within a month.

  Aftermath

  Empire House was built on the site, ending the building's use as an entertainment venue.

  Source

• 1933

  Reinstatement of live theatreStrategy

  Background

  The full-time cinema format introduced in 1932 proved unsuccessful.

  Action taken

  The Empire restored live theatrical programming and limited cinema operation to Sundays, when live performances were prohibited.

  Aftermath

  The venue continued as a mixed and predominantly live entertainment theatre through the pre-war and post-war periods.

  Source

• 1932

  Conversion to full-time cinema operationStrategy

  Background

  The Empire appointed a manager who had previously worked at a theatre that had improved its finances by becoming a cinema.

  Action taken

  Management installed a Western Electric sound system and changed the venue from primarily live theatre to full-time cinema.

  Aftermath

  The change did not succeed commercially or operationally, and the venue returned to live theatre in October 1933, retaining film screenings mainly on Sundays.

  Source

1. 1Chiswick Empireen.wikipedia.org