Tell me about the best THX cinema that you have attended in the past, I’d like to hear feedback of the practical THX cinema the type of film presentation be it Dolby stereo A, SR type 70mm Dolby stereo, dts, and SDDS 8 or even the CDS that was retired very early during the dawn of the digital sound age of the early 1990’s.

Tell you what I’ll start of with one of the finest THX cinemas in the whole wide land of the United Kingdom if not the word.

Empire was one of the first THX cinemas I attended during 1989 though to 1995 and 2000 which at the time the THX licence was dropped but Empire is now back, or should I say The Empire Strikes Back with a bruit force of THX JBL sound power of 56KW!!!

Having seeing Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at the Empire in 70mm six-track Dolby stereo SR THX sound system where the lows where lower the highs higher and surround that was totally surrounding the large auditorium with some 22 JBL 8330 five-screen array consisting of JBL 4675-A and sub bass array of x8 JBL 4645 one things for sure the Empire is a tough act to beat even by home cinema standards.


Hears the little tramp Charlie Chaplin standing outside the Empire



Hears a closer view of the columns outside the Empire

The grandness of the architecture shows that this is place wait until you see the inside.



The sound is frigging awesome I Kidd you not, I've been there several times, sick around I'll be posting for quite a while.

This is a night time view of the of the neon lighting outside the Empire



This image was taken around 1991 at the premiere of Backdraft.

Backdaft was presented in 70mm six-track Dolby Stereo via the Lucasfilm THX sound system.



This image was taken around 1991 at the premiere of Backdraft note star William Baldwin in the background.



How do you like the show so far boys & girls!

View of the front lobby of the Empire



Grab that ticket and start running towards Empire Screen #1.



The cinema was refurbished in 1989 with a makeover cost around if memory severs me right £5 million pounds.

You can clearly see the money was well spent and put to very good use in the refurbishments.



While waiting to getting seated in the Empire's plush red rocker chairs and be surrounded with the delights of 70mm Dolby Stereo or Dolby Digital, dts SDDS and THX, relax with a drink at the bar.



This view shows "The Bodyguard" which was played at the Empire back in 1992 thou the Empire normally shows "Paramount and Universal" films the Empire took it on to show the "The Bodyguard" as the former "Warner West End" cinema was been refurbished herself at a grand cost around £20 million there about.



A different angle hear shows the doors to Empire screen #1 were getting closer now we are!