Empress Theatre
Paola,
KS
66071
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The Empress Theatre was opened in late summer of 1915. In the April 14, 1917 issue of The Moving Picture World, Thomas M. Henneberry is mentioned as the manager of the Empress Theatre in Paola Kansas. In a 1926 advertisement for Reproduco organs the Empress Theatre, Paola, Kansas, is mentioned as being one of their satisfied customers. The Film Daily Yearboook 1926 lists the Empress Theatre with 300 seats. By 1914 and 1943 it is listed with 600 seats. It has gone from listings by 1950.
Contributed by
Will Dunklin
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Fred C. Smith began showing moving pictures in Paola at the Mallory Opera House. That was going so well that Smith had a retail space converted for $10,000 creating the Empress Theatre. With tiled lobby, deluxe upholstered seating, and brass trim everywhere, the Empress opened in late summer 1915 exclusively for movies. The Mallory continued service as venue for live shows including traveling vaudeville shows by Smith. The Reverend O.B. Thurston took over the Empress on Sundays for sermons. Thursday was considered “big movie night” at the Empress.