Empire Theatre
260 Westminster Street,
Providence,
RI
02903
260 Westminster Street,
Providence,
RI
02903
2 people
favorited this theater
The Empire Theatre has a long history that began in 1878 as Low’s Opera House, when it was a rival to the Providence Opera House on Dorrance Street, opened seven years earlier in 1871. It was re-built, reopening on October 24, 1898 with a seating capacity of 1,801.
In the seventy-one years of its existence in the center of downtown Providence, it served as an illustrious home to theatre and vaudeville and films, under the later names of Keith’s Theatre, Keith’s New Theatre, Victory Theatre, RKO Victory Theatre, and finally, from 1936 to its demise in 1948, the Empire Theatre.
The name ‘Empire’ had been given to two other theatres on the same street over the decades, all within a few blocks of each other. The first was the Empire Theatre at Westminster Street and Empire Street. That was torn down in 1916. The second was the former Westminster Theatre that became the Empire Theatre in 1915 to about 1924. This one was the last Providence theatre with that name.
By the end of its life, the Empire Theatre had become a cut-rate theatre with frequently changing double bills of subsequent-run films and other revivals. It was closed on February 29, 1948 and was soon demolished in Spring 1948.
The complete detailed record of this theatre appears in the book that narrates the history of downtown Providence theatres: Roger Brett’s 1976 “Temples of Illusion”.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 38 comments)
The important event of the 1880-81 season of this theatre when it was known as Low’s was the only appearance in Providence up to that time of the great French actress Sarah Bernhardt. (Per George O. Willard’s book History of the Providence Stage 1762-1891.)
In the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, there are 2 theaters listed for Providence: the Providence Opera House and the Keith’s Opera House. There are no street addresses in this Guide, unfortunately. The Keith’s OH was managed by J.T. Fynes. There were 750 seats in the orchestra, 551 in the balcony, and 500 in the gallery, total: 1,801. Ticket prices ranged from 15 cents to 75 cents. The theater had both gas and electric illumination and was located on the ground floor. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide, and the stage was 35 feet deep. The population of Providence in 1897 was 155,000. Hotels for show folk were the Narragansett, City, Perkins, Perrin and Dorrance. There are 3 ads: the Hopkins Transfer Co. at Union Station, handles scenary and baggage; Old Colony Bill Posting Co., 212 Union St., posts ads, as does Charles F. Haskins, Bill Poster, at 230 Westminster St.
Item in Boxoffice Magazine, December 27, 1947:
“Al Colagiovanni, former relief manager for Associated, has taken over the managership of the Empire Theatre, succeeding Nick Trifolletti, who has resigned."
[Note: about two months after this piece, on February 29, 1948, this theatre would close for good and be demolished a few months after that.]
An article on theatre-manager Foster Lardner appeared in Providence News on November 11, 1929. At that time he managed both the Victory (Keith’s, later called Empire) and the Albee.
An article appeared in the Providence News, September 3, 1919, describing the renovations of this theatre which had been known as Keith’s and was now, after months of extensive work, re-christened the Victory Theatre. About seventeen years later, in 1936, it would be renamed the Empire Theatre and last twelve more years after that.
CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE titled “Victory is Popular Movie House."
And click for RE-OPENING ADVERTISEMENT.
Further renovations were done to this popular first-run movie theatre in 1924 when it was the Victory. CLICK HERE for story from The Providence News, August 25, 1924 on page 18.
This theatre opened on March 4, 1878 as Low’s Opera House and would survive under various names until 1948. Low’s Opera House is not to be confused with the even older Providence Opera House on Dorrance Street.
Opening day ad from the Providence Morning Star:
INAUGURATION DAY PROGRAM
Here is a low-quality but rare interior shot of the Victory Theatre and its stage area, taken on June 3, 1924 during a “Baby Peggy” contest.
CLICK FOR PICTURE
A FAUSTIAN BARGAIN
Interesting piece reporting on Christmas parties at this theatre and two others in 1922:
CHRISTMAS PARTIES