CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

The Empire was the only purpose built picture theatre to operate in Helensburgh. It opened in 1923 and continued to serve the community until 1963 although Parkinson’s research suggests that the venues popularity fluctuated throughout most of this period (1995, pp. 45-46).

Talkies were introduced in October 1930 and Cinemascope in 1955.

There is no record of film exhibition since December 1963 although the seats were removed and the building was used for other social purposes until 1965. The building was destroyed by fire in 1972 and a supermarket built on the site.

References:
Parkinson, R 1995, Gauffered Velour: a history of motion picture exhibition and picture theatres in the Illawarra district of New South Wales, 1897-1994, Australian Theatre Historical Society, Campbelltown, NSW.

Thorne, R, Tod, L & Cork, K 1996, Movie Theatre Heritage Register for New South Wales 1896 – 1996, Department of Architecture, University of Sydney, Sydney.