The Empire Theatre opened to the public in 1894, now join the staff on the last day before the doors closed permanently in July 1961. These rushes from the UTV Archive feature poignant interviews with Sam Thompson, James Young and Nan Stirling who began serving in the Empire in 1915.Watch out for a glimpse of the orchestra pit where one Christmas conductor Leslie Beresford fled to the back of the theatre terrified by the sight of an elephant doing a handstand looming above him.