Historic Empire Theater In Colonial Era Bangalore, 1935 Photo
A striking 1935 photograph captures the newly completed Empire Theater in colonial Bangalore (Bengaluru). Located on the once-prestigious South Parade Road, today’s M.G. Road. The Empire Theater stood as one of the grand entertainment landmarks in the British Cantonment. Bangalore’s status as a major military cantonment station meant that cinema became the most popular leisure activity for British army personnel, civil service officers, and the growing European community. Over time, Bangalore’s Cantonment turned into a vibrant cultural hub with an impressive number of theaters.
During the early to mid-20th century, the city reportedly housed nearly 150 cinema halls. The Empire Theater joined an iconic lineup that included Liberty, Imperial, Opera, Rex, BRV, and several other halls that shaped the city’s cinematic culture. With its Art Deco-inspired façade and modern interiors, Empire quickly became a favorite among moviegoers.
Sadly, the Empire Theater was demolished in 2021, erasing a significant fragment of Bengaluru’s old-world charm and its century-long association with colonial-era entertainment venues.
A closer inspection of the theater’s movie posters in this 1935 photo reveals the screening of Hollywood titles from 1934, including Crime Without Passion, Now and Forever, and Cleopatra. These international films highlight how Western cinema influenced the social life of the cantonment.
Today, the photograph stands as a poignant reminder of Bengaluru’s vanished cinematic heritage, offering a rare glimpse into the glamour, leisure, and architectural elegance of a bygone era. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know – Elgin Talkies in Shivajinagar was one of Bangalore’s and possibly South India’s first theater, shut down in 2011.
Past posts – Watercolor Landscape Painting British India Secunderabad, 1930., Toddy Tappers of British Era Madras, 1900 Postca rd., View Of Bombay Fort & Harbour – Old Print 1840., Construction of Willingdon Island Kochi, 1929 Map.
