29  The Empire Neath - it's history

In just over a year the Empire Neath has been demolished and replaced by a row of terraced dwellings for social housing.

The Empire in its 83 year history provided entertainment for the people of Neath and its surrounding areas.   Films were timed so that people could catch the last bus home after an evening show - they were the good old days

However, it was not only films the Empire was famous for - there was dancing on the lower floor ballroom on Wednesday's and Saturday's with Joe Berni and his band.   The Berni family also ran the Empire cafe as well as other refreshment places in the town where one could always have a good meal at a reasonable price.   During the years of World War II the Empire was a great morale booster to the people of Neath with newsreels showing what was happening on the war scene.

In the 1960's when the Empire finished showing films after its opening in 1926, there was Bingo and Snooker in the cafe and ballroom areas.

A website has been created in memory of this great entertainment centre:

http://www.spanglefish.com/empirecinemaneath/