FOND memories of the golden age of cinema were recalled when a plaque was unveiled in Earby on Monday.

The specially commissioned plaque is fixed to the new Ace Group factory building on Water Street, marking the site of Earby's former Empire Cinema.

The new building has gone up on the site of the old Empire, which had been converted to industrial use many years previously and was destroyed by a fire in 1996.

However, Earby people still hold many dear memories of nights out at the Empire, some even recalling the days when silent films were shown there.

For Earby lads and lasses the Saturday matinee was the highlight of the week, and for courting couples the Empire was a favourite venue.

More than a few hearts were saddened when the old Empire was gutted by a fire and had to be demolished.

Peter Robinson, owner of the Ace Group which occupied the building, vowed to pick up the pieces. Within a few weeks his company, which manufactures pressed metal cases and cabinets, was up and running again, having transferred production to premises in New Road.

Later he set about rebuilding on the Water Street site, the new building almost identical in size and height to the old one.

The idea to add a plaque commemorating the old cinema came from Earby man Geoff Newsholme, a former projectionist at the Empire, and it was Geoff who set the ball rolling. Bob Abel, from the Earby and District Local History Society, delved into the records to research the building, and Earby Parish Council agreed to pay for the cast brass plaque.

It reads: "Site of Empire Cinema, built 1913 as an 'electric picture palace' and closed in 1960. Destroyed by fire 1996. Last manager Albert Beaty."

And Albert, who still lives in Earby, was the guest of honour at Monday's proceedings.

He worked at the Empire from 1936 until its closure, apart from his wartime service with the RAF.

Also there were former projectionists Ivan Parker and Milton Hargreaves and, of course, Geoff, who confessed they had all learnt from Albert and all started at the bottom - sweeping up!

Geoff presented Albert with a framed photograph of himself taken in the high-tech projection room at the new Hollywood Park multi-screen cinema in Burnley - a far cry from his days at the Empire.

Bob Abel said the Empire had been one of the earliest cinemas in the country, but films had been shown in Earby prior to 1913 when itinerant showmen visited the town.

Coun Vic Marsh, chairman of the parish council, said fellow members had been happy to pay for the plaque to commemorate a piece of Earby's social history.

"As a kid I used to collect jam jars and return them for a ha'penny apiece so I could go to the Saturday pictures at the Empire," he said.

He also recalled taking his first girlfriend there - almost as vividly as the moment when his parents walked in moments later!

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.