Empire Theatre, Toowoomba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Empire Theatre |
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Empire Theatre facade
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| Location | 56 & 56A Neil Street, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1911–1990s |
| Architect | Hall & Phillips |
| Architectural style(s) | Art Deco |
| Owner | Toowoomba Regional Council |
| Official name: Empire Theatre (former), Empire Theatre | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 31 May 1994 |
| Reference no. | 600978 |
| Significant period | 1911, 1933, 1973–74, c. 1997 (fabric) 1911–1971 (social) |
| Significant components | dress circle, foyer – dress circle, proscenium arch, foyer – entrance, stage/sound shell, auditorium |
| Builders | Kell & Rigby |
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| Empire Theatre, Toowoomba | |
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| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 1,561 |
The Empire Theatre is a super cool old theatre located at 56 & 56A Neil Street in Toowoomba, Australia. It's so special that it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register since May 31, 1994.
This theatre has an amazing Art Deco style. It reminds you of the "glory days" of Hollywood movies! Outside, you'll see palm trees. Inside, the main entrance has shiny gold and bronze colours. There are even two fish tanks in the foyer! One of the most eye-catching parts of the Empire Theatre is its huge proscenium arch. This is the arch that frames the stage.
The stage itself is really big. It's over 13 metres (about 43 feet) wide and 12 metres (about 39 feet) deep. It has lots of space on the sides for performers to get ready. There's also an orchestra pit that can move up and down. It can be at the same level as the audience floor or even become part of the stage!
Contents
A Look Back: The Empire Theatre's Story
The Empire Theatre you see today has two main parts to its history. Most of the building and its design are from 1933. But it also includes big sections of an older theatre that was built in 1911. Basically, the Empire Theatre is a huge, specially designed Art Deco picture theatre from 1933.
The First Empire Theatre (1911–1933)
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The very first Empire Theatre opened on June 29, 1911. It was a large brick theatre that could hold 2,200 people! It was a huge hit. A group of Toowoomba business people and a movie promoter from Brisbane named EJ Carroll built it. They had already been showing films in Toowoomba since 1909. The movies were so popular that building a special theatre just for them was a must!
The 1911 theatre was designed by an architect named George Lane. It had a stage, so movies often shared the show with live acts like vaudeville. In 1928, the theatre was updated. The next year, sound equipment was added! The first "talkie" (a movie with sound) ever shown in Toowoomba was The Jazz Singer. It played at the Empire Theatre on September 2, 1929.
Fire and Rebuilding (1933)
Sadly, the first Empire Theatre was destroyed by a fire on February 22, 1933. The Toowoomba community loved this theatre, so they were very sad. But almost right away, the owners decided to build a new Empire Theatre. It was going to cost a lot of money, about £30,000! While the new theatre was being built, they showed films at the Town Hall.
Famous architects from Brisbane, TR Hall & LB Phillips, designed the new theatre. Construction started in May 1933. A lot of the brick walls from the 1911 theatre survived the fire. These old walls were used in the new building. The second Empire Theatre was massive! It could hold 2,500 people. This made it Queensland's biggest theatre outside of Brisbane. It was even one of the largest theatres in all of Australia!
Amazing Engineering and Design
One cool thing about the new theatre was how they built the large balcony, called the Dress Circle. They used 70 tonnes of strong steel to make it. This was a very clever piece of engineering at the time. It meant that no columns were needed to hold up the balcony. So, everyone in the audience had a clear view of the stage or screen!
The new theatre mixed modern Art Deco style with the grand feel of old "picture palaces." It had a romantic atmosphere, partly thanks to its special lighting. The projection room, called the bio box, was the biggest in Queensland. The sound was excellent. And the stage was one of the largest in regional Australia. This meant it could host all kinds of shows, from live acts to operas.
Edward Gold, the theatre's main electrician, created one of the most amazing features. He made the grand proscenium arch light up in constantly changing colours! He did this by bouncing light off a special wall behind the arch. It was a very complex system. There was also a huge lamp in the main ceiling that gave off a soft, even light. In 1933, people said the Empire Theatre had the most advanced lighting of any theatre in the British Commonwealth!
Local Pride and Famous Films
The Empire Theatre owners were proud that most of the builders and materials were local. Many companies from Brisbane and Toowoomba helped build and decorate it. The new Empire Theatre, called the "theatre supreme," opened on November 27, 1933. It showed movies from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a big film company. In the 1930s, you could see movies with stars like Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, and Laurel and Hardy here!
Changes Over Time
During World War II in 1942, a large central ceiling light was removed for safety. People worried that if a bomb hit, glass would fall on the audience. This light was never put back. The cinema was also closed for parts of the war.
In the 1950s, a new screen for CinemaScope movies was added. But in the 1960s, fewer people came to the theatre. This was mainly because television became popular. The last film was shown at the Empire on April 1, 1971. After that, most of the seats in the main area were removed.
In 1973, two Toowoomba businessmen bought the theatre. Later, in 1975, the Queensland Government bought it for Technical College use. It was used as a TAFE facility for many years.
In 1997, the Toowoomba City Council (now Toowoomba Regional Council) bought the theatre. They restored it to its beautiful 1933 Art Deco style. They also added modern technical equipment and comfy seats. Because of this amazing restoration, the Empire Theatre was named "The Best Theatre in Australia" in 1998!
In 2005, a new Conference Precinct was built. It connected the Empire Theatre to the nearby Church Theatre. This new area included a fancy restaurant and more foyer space. In 2009, the Empire Theatre started a special company to help more young people get involved in performing arts. They launched 'Empire Youth Arts' in 2010.
The Empire Theatre celebrated its 100th birthday in 2011! Today, it can seat 1,565 people. It's the largest theatre with a proscenium arch in regional Australia. Many visiting artists say it's one of the best performing arts venues in the country.
What the Empire Theatre Looks Like
The Empire Theatre is on Neil Street in Toowoomba. It stands out between the Wesley Uniting Church and the Masonic Lodge.
The front of the theatre, facing Neil Street, is a great example of 1930s Art Deco style. It's made of plain plaster over brick. The building looks like a simple cube with a step back at the top. Its height is made to look even taller by tall, flat columns called pilasters. These run across the front and sides. The tops of these pilasters look like palm fronds, with the "trunk" going down the column.
Between the pilasters, you'll see narrow windows with cool geometric patterns. Above the main entrance, there's a big sign that says "Empire." It's made of metal with a cool jazz-like design and neon lettering that lights up!
The original wooden doors with fancy glass are still there. The display cases on each side of the entrance are also original.
The outside walls are made of brick. Some of these bricks are from the first theatre that burned down in 1933. You can still see some of the fancy "baroque" style windows from the 1911 theatre on the side walls.
The fly tower is a tall part of the theatre that goes up 90 feet (about 27 metres). It's made of timber and covered with corrugated iron. This tower is where scenery and lights are lifted up and down during a show.
Inside, the main roof is supported by strong steel trusses. These trusses are covered in a special material called Craftex. This material is also used on the walls and ceilings inside the auditorium. It helps to make the sound in the theatre excellent!
The Dress Circle (the balcony seating area) is supported by a huge steel truss. This truss is 70 feet (about 21 metres) long! It means that no columns block your view of the stage. This steel structure was very impressive when it was built.
The proscenium arch is made of a special perforated plaster pattern over a timber frame. It's famous for its large size and the amazing lighting effects it can create. The theatre still has parts of its original lighting system. This includes old switchboards and the special lighting grid around the proscenium arch. Some of the original light fixtures are still there too!
Why the Empire Theatre is Important
The Empire Theatre is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for many reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history has changed.
It's a great example of how theatres used to show both live stage shows and films. It also shows how people's expectations for entertainment grew in the early 1900s.
- It's a rare and special part of Queensland's history.
It's one of the largest and most complete Art Deco theatres outside of a major city in Australia. It's also the best Art Deco theatre still standing in Queensland.
- It shows important features of its type of building.
It's important for its clever use of steel girders in the Dress Circle. It also still has parts of the lighting and film projection technology from the 1930s.
- It's beautiful to look at.
The Empire Theatre is an amazing example of Art Deco theatre design in Australia. Both the outside and inside have beautiful Art Deco details. It's a major landmark in Toowoomba and an important part of the Neil Street streetscape.
- It shows great creative and technical skill.
The way the steel girders were used for the Dress Circle was a big technical achievement at the time. It also shows the skill of the builders and designers from Queensland.
- It's very important to the community.
The theatre was a major entertainment spot in Toowoomba from 1911 to 1971. It played a big role in bringing movies to the Toowoomba area.
- It's linked to important people and groups.
It shows the amazing work of the Brisbane architects TR Hall & LB Phillips. It's also a reminder of the great craftsmanship and local technology used in Queensland.
