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The first film show to come to Holyhead was in 1909.
Mr. William Davies was also brought film shows to Holyhead. He had a screen and projector set up in the Town Hall in the town. The very first "talking" picture to be shown was called "The Jazz Singer" featuring Al Johnson which was shown in the Town Hall. SEE PHOTO HERE.
Mr. William Davies had the 700 seat EMPIRE CINEMA built in February 1920 by the building firm of John Hughes "Sunnyside" in Kings Road, Holyhead.
Sir R. J. Thomas a local Member of Parliament opened the cinema. The local federation of discharged and demobilised Soldiers and Sailors were given the proceeds for the evening. During the silent film days Mr. Bailey who played the piano, Mr. Mc Cormac (who was a brother-in-law to William Davies' son) who played the violin, and Mrs Cook who played the cello brought the films to life with their musical accompaniment. His daughter Myfanwy was the cashier selling tickets, and his son Idris Davies was the projectionist. During the early years, the cinema was also used for shows by touring companies as well as variety shows by local people. The cinema was opened on Sunday afternoons for the troops during World War two.
Holyhead's other cinemas were the CYBI HALL - affectionately known locally as the "laugh and scratch", the HIPPODROME cinema - which was completely destroyed by fire in the late 1960's. After the Hippodrome fire, the Empire Cinema was re-modernised, and the first film to be shown there was "Carry On Cleo" from the very popular comedy batch of the "Carry On" films.
In 1976 the Empire was modernised again and was made into a twin screen cinema.
The EMPIRE CINEMA has changed hands and Managers many times, but is still going strong to today, with lots of local support without whom the cinema would surely close.
THE EMPIRE CINEMA is ANGLESEY's ONLY CINEMA
Thank you to William Davies (Grandson to William Davies mentioned above) for some of the information and photos above
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