Guessing time - what and where?

[Atarah]

I might kick myself for this one, it may be far too easy for some of you. But ... we will see how good you all are"

[Ernie]

That's the old Empire Cinema on Edgar Street

[Tealeaf]

.....Except those of a later generation (i.e. me) remember it as the Princess pictures/fleapit. It must be 30 years ago since it closed.....now a bathroom sales centre, I believe. And was it not the first purpose built cinema in Accy?

[janet]

I remember going there sat mornings. What about the one next door that burnt down, the Prince's. ( i think )

[Owd Bert]

The fire at the Princess Theatre,built in 1882, was in November 1964. At the time the old Empire Cinema was being used as a Bingo Hall. Bingo was transferred to the old Co-Op premises on Blackburn Road as "Empire Bingo" and the vacated premises in Edgar St re-opened as the "New Princess Cinema" in Feb 1965.
I well remember in the late 1930s the absolute chaos in and around Edgar St at the time of the "second house" which was about quarter to nine. People waiting to go in had to contend with the "first house" audiences coming out of both Cinemas. What a shambles.

[Darby]

Yes.... the Empire on Edgar Street. I use to go into the toffee shop directly across from the entrance. 2 oz of treacle toffee, 2 oz of wine gum´s (I was anybody's for 2 oz of wine gums), then into the first house.......................Bliss

[Atarah]

Hi, here's a lovely old view, showing a toffee shop next to the cinema also. Times change, and not always for the best. The toffee shop is now a "naughty" shop!!!

[Darby]

I'd almost forgotten the "top" toffee shop. Nice one Atarah, shows how easy it is to forget such little gems. Nice piccy too.