Empire Theatre
212 Dauphin Street,
Mobile,
AL
36602
212 Dauphin Street,
Mobile,
AL
36602
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Bijou Amusement Company, Giddens & Rester, Paramount-Richards Theatres Inc., Saenger Amusement Company
Styles: Italian Renaissance
Nearby Theaters
The Empire Theatre was opened by the Bijou Amusement Company chain on February 9, 1914. It was two doors down from where the Century Theatre would be located. The theatre was later operated by Paramount-Richards Theatres until the mid-1940’s and later by Giddens & Rester Theatres. It was closed in the early-1960’s. Demolished and now a small parking lot.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
The January 13, 1940 issue of Boxoffice listed the Empire Theatre as one of three downtown Mobile houses then being operated by the Saenger Theatres Corporation. The other two were the Crown and the Saenger.
The Empire Theatre was a big deal in Mobile, Alabama as the first movie palace built in the city. Announced in 1913 by Bijou Amusement, the Empire’s Italian-themed architecture with marble to match was different from the converted old playhouses and more prevalent store-show era venues in downtown Mobile. It opened February 9, 1914 and its success led to continuous showtimes from 10a to 11p daily. The venue was converted to sound to remain viable. It survived into the television era.