Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Wow! Thanks Joe. It’s amazing how different the inside is compared to its exterior. The outside is “fugly”! They need to graft the exterior of the old Texas Theatre around the corner onto the front of the Empire. Then you’d have one complete and fabulous movie palace! :–)

I can confirm that this theater is still open and (on the outside at least) couldn’t be more drab and unpalacelike. :–) I also read on a historical plaque on Houston Street that the theater was made smaller during the renovation to allow the more important Majestic theater to expand their backstage operations. I’m really curious about what this theater actually looks like on the inside.

I’m a little confused by this theater. I was just reading a book on historic San Antonio buildings and it says that there were 2 theaters here and it was the smaller theater that was restored by Las Casas at a cost of $3.5MM. It also says that it seats just 800 people. As I peered through the lobby windows, the view couldn’t have been any plainer or drab for a supposed palace. I also didn’t see any upcoming events posted. If there are in fact 2 theaters, what happened to the other one? What is the status of that one? My reference is a picture book titled “San Antonio, Then and Now” by Paula Allen.

My photograph of the EMPIRE on hard times.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/299411959

WOW! Is this theatre in the Downtown S.A. area? If I ever get down to Texas I just may drop in and take a look at this historic theatre.

Here is another link with photos:
http://www.wjhw.com/empire_sa.html

Can you pleae post the date that Roy Rodgers appeared with Trigger on the stage of the Empire Theatre, in San Antonio, Texas. I was there in the audience, but was too young to remember the year, do you know when it was?