Known Years of Operation

Mar 3, 1913 - Jul 26, 1914

Number of Seats

1,400

Owner/Managers

Owner: Sullivan & Considine Proprs., Manager: Chas N. Ryan

This theater first opened its doors on March 3, 1913 as a Vaudeville venue. The first nights attractions featured singer, Mrs. Delphine Marx, along with Irish magician, Lawrence Crane.

It was sold to become apart of Marcus Loew’s chain, renaming it Marcus Loew’s Empress Theatre in August of 1914. The Oregon Sunday Journal included coupons in the newsprints for 4 consecutive days, which could be collected and redeemed for a pair of admission tickets.

Loew's Notice, The Oregon Sunday Journal (1914)
Loew's Notice/Coupon, The Oregon Sunday Journal (1914)

 

 

The venue was bought out by Orpheum in 1915, and once again shortly after, phasing to the Hippodrome Theater.

Empress Theater, Interior (Morning Oregonian (1913)
Empress Theater, Interior (The Morning Oregonian, 1913)

Controversies:

The architect who designed and built this theater was arrested for building a balcony without a proper permit to do so. He claimed that he had been targeted because he was an non-local architect from Seattle.

Suillivan & Considine as well as the Empress Theater Company were sued by Fechheimer Estate Co for failure to vacate by the lease expiration date. The theater was holding onto the building as long as they could because they had no other venues to stage their attractions.

Works Cited

  • Baer, Leone Cass. “Magnificent is Empress Opening.” Morning Oregonian, vol 53, no 16,310, 4 March, 1914 pg 1. Oregon Historic Newspapers.

    “Free Theatre Tickets for All Journal Readers!” The Sunday Oregonian, vol 11, no 16, 26 July, 1914 pg 52. Oregon Historic Newspapers.

    “Ouster Suit Hearing Set.” Morning Oregonian, vol 52, no 16,263, 8 Jan, 1913 pg 1. Oregon Historic Newspapers.

    “Theaters Change Places.” Morning Oregonian, vol 55, no 17,035, 30 June, 1915 pg 1. Oregon Historic Newspapers.

    “Hippodrome is Bought Locally.” Morning Oregonian, vol 56, no 17,487, 8 Dec 1916 pg 1. Oregon Historic Newspapers.

    “City Director is Scored.” The Sunday Oregonian, vol 32, no 15, 13 April, 1913 pg 1. Oregon Historic Newspapers.

Latest Research

Free to Men; The Empress Theater

Analysis of an Empress Theater Ad in The Morning Oregonian on March 1, 1916