Moss Empires was a company formed in Edinburgh in 1899, from the merger of the theatre companies owned by Sir Edward Moss, Richard Thornton and Sir Oswald Stoll. This created the largest chain of variety theatres and music halls in the United Kingdom. The business was successful, with major variety theatres in almost every city in Britain and Ireland, and was advertised as the largest group in the world.
History
The group had grown to over 50 theatres when Stoll withdrew his in 1910 to run them as a separate business.
In 1932, impresario and producer George Black oversaw the merging of GTC (General Theatre Corporation) with Moss Empires variety circuit. Black became in charge of the new company Moss Empires Group and controlled a chain of 53 theatres all over the UK. In 1938, Black became the joint managing director of Moss Empires making him one of London's most powerful producers before his death in 1945.
In 1945 Val Parnell became managing director of Moss Empires until 1958.[1]
Prince Littler became chairman in 1947 and after some 30 years the Moss and Stoll companies reunited.
The company ended its promotion of music halls during the 1960s, due to increasing competition from other entertainment media.