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This Theatre was part of the pre-Granada Circuit days and was originally known as the Empire when first opened by Alexandre Bernstein in 1914.  It was reconstructed by Cecil Massey and Theodore Komisarjevsky, as architect and interior designer respectively, and reopened as the Kinema West Ham in 1927.  At this time, a Christie Theatre Organ with 2 manuals and 7 ranks was installed and, in 1935, it was enlarged to 3 manuals and 9 ranks.

The Theatre was taken over by Denman (London) Ltd. but with the Bernsteins managing it.  The building was damaged during the Second World War and was closed for two months before re-opening later in 1940.

It was renamed the Century West Ham in 1951, but was known as the Century Stratford from 1953.  From 1962, Bingo was offered one night each week, but the building closed as a cinema in May 1963.  It reopened as a full-time Bingo Club in 1963 and was fully re-acquired by Granada in 1965.  The Bingo Club was renamed as a Granada Social Club in 1977 and was acquired by Gala Bingo in 1991.   The building closed in 1994 and was demolished in 1996.

The Christie Theatre Organ was removed from the Theatre in 1977 and was eventually installed at Hornstup Castle in Denmark where it remains today.

Anton Stromlund at the erstwhile Century Stratford Christie Theatre Organ
where it is installed in his home

Click here to hear Anton Stromlund play and talk about this organ

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