Looking back to when the Empire Cinema Closed

Mr Alex Jones, former owner/manger of the Plaza Cinema, Port Talbot, has taken an interest in this website and sent in the following report following our query about the last film screened:-

"I tried to research the last film title some years ago by going through hard copies of old Neath Guardian's at Neath Library.

Everyone I asked about it couldn't remember the final film.  There is a male foyer member of staff that currently works at Castle Bingo in Melin and he can't remember the last film either.

I think the main problem lies in the fact that Empire gradually went over to bingo, initially trying it out on one night, then two, then three (and so on).  I think when the last film rolled it was possibly thought that it might not have actually been the "last film" but (of course) films never returned. This may have been to avoid the bad press that was occurring at the time about the bingo that was starting to be held there.  They just "quietly" stopped showing films.

There was certainly no "headline story" in the paper when the films had ended, and there wasn't even a final advert listed in the press.  The Empire adverts just sort of dwindled away.

Something similar happened at ODEON Port Talbot about ten years later.  The films just stopped running with no publicity, however I did manage to find out the final film there before the building reverted to Majestic Bingo, but it was a hard investigative battle.

Since that time it was much easier to get information.  As more and more cinemas closed it caused public outcry and headline news.  Windsor Neath closed in June 1977 with One Hundred And One Dalmatians resulting in front page stories and news reports on TV.  It eventually re-opened (first floor only) in April 1979 with Grease, but that wasn't to be known in 1977.

I have thought about seeing about returning Empire to a cinema in Neath.  It has the ability to house two or three screens.  Unfortunately, the Welsh audiences haven't had a proper cinema in years, as they're all multiplexes.  The audiences would no longer understand the concept of films being run in such buildings as Empire, sadly.  And with no car parking facilities it would be doomed to a quick failure, which is what caused the Windsor to eventually fail in 1992."

Ed Note   Thanks Alex for the above information.   Many think that the Empire Neath would make an ideal Arts and Crafts centre for the youth of the area as they have nowhere to go in the evenings and weekends.   The new Gwyn Hall development is probably designed for adults - so the Empire could cater for youngsters.

As far as car parking is concerned, although the Empire has space for only around 20 cars, this should not be an issue with youngsters - besides, the Empire is in the middle of large residential area and is within walking distance - similar to the schools in the area.