The Empire Theatre opened in Lynn Street in 1909 with 2000 seats and for a number of years proved very popular. By the early 1950s, audience numbers were dwindling rapidly and in 1956, it was owned by the Essoldo Cinema Group and became a cinemascope cinema although the Essoldo cinema itself was in York Road. The gallery and balcony were closed at this time. In August 1959, it was closed as a cinema and the last theatre production was in November 1959 and was the West Hartlepool Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of Carousel. Proving economically unviable, in 1961 the building was turned into a Bingo Hall. However, its location and increased competition from a number of other Bingo Halls saw it close in 1964.

It was finally demolished in 1975.

Douglas Ferriday, who was the town’s last non-elected mayor, from 2001-2002.

A year after his mayoral term, Mr Ferriday was given another honour, when he was elected as leader and chairman of the Conservative group on Hartlepool Borough Council, having been the group’s secretary for 20 years.

The retired photographer and historian joined the local authority in 1970 and during his time, represented the Grange and Rift House wards.

After 34 years’ service as a councillor, he was later given Hartlepool’s highest civic honour, when he became an Alderman in 2010.

In a 1989 Hartlepool Mail article featuring a profile of Mr Ferriday, his commitment and membership of many community organisations was hailed as a “Who’s Who of the caring society”.

He had been founder member of Hartlepool Civic Society, chairman of the Cleveland Committee of the North Eastern Electricity Consultative Council, a board member of the Cleveland Buildings Preservation Trust, press officer for Hartlepool Art Club, a member of the management committees of Hartlepool People and Hartlepool Citizen’s Advice Bureau and was also active in the Hartlepool Council of Voluntary Service.

Mr Ferriday, who served with the Army as an 18-year-old in Belsen, in Germany, was also chairman of Rift House Ward, an executive of the Hartlepool Conservative Association, on the Police Liaison Panel for Hartlepool and also found time to write numerous books.