Broad Theatre
282 W. Main Street,
Rochester,
NY
14614
282 W. Main Street,
Rochester,
NY
14614
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The earlier Empire Theatre now has its own page.
I agree with Joe Vogel. I believe that this page is conflating two theatres. The 1926 film daily yearbook lists an 800 seat Empire theatre at 282 South Main Street in Rochester, NY. Either South Main Street was a typo or the street name was changed to West Main Street.
The introduction could be changed to “The Empire Theatre opened prior to 1926”, unless someone knows the opening date for this Empire theatre.
The earlier Empire theatre aka Washington Hall which was built in 1860, should have its own page. The photo above should be moved to the older Empire theatre once a page is added for it.
The name Empire Theatre must have been used by at least two houses in Rochester. The January 22, 1905, issue of the New York Sunday Telegraph listed burlesque and variety acts slated to appear at the Empire Theatre in Rochester in January, February, and March. The Empire on East Main had been closed for a year by that time.
The advertisement for Leon H. Lempert & Son in the 1904-1905 Cahn Guide lists the Empire Theatre in Rochester as one of three Lempert designed houses then under construction.
My guess would be that we don’t have the wrong address for this theater, but the wrong early history and wrong photo, which, judging from the caption, must depict the first Empire on East Main Street. We should add a new page for that house with the information provided by peterscribner.
Became the Broad Theatre in 1934.