Empire Theatre

166 S. Main Street,
Fall River, MA 02720

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corp.

Architects: George S. Darling, Joseph M. Darling

Firms: J.M. Darling & Son

Nearby Theaters

Empire Theatre

The Empire Theatre was opened on November 18, 1918. It had a reopening on January 19, 1920. It reopened again on August 24, 1939 following a rebuild. One of the number of lost theatres of Fall River. By 1957 it was operated by Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corp. It was demolished in December 1962.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

Recent comments (view all 22 comments)

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on November 14, 2010 at 10:27 am

The Empire was listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 2300 seats and open daily. The seat count seems too high.

spectrum
spectrum on January 14, 2011 at 10:12 am

The Empire was recently demolished and the Fall River Justice Center constructed on its site – looks like the new complex was finished very recently.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on January 14, 2011 at 11:06 am

Spectrum,
I don’t think the Empire was “recently” demolished. Demolition began in December 1962 according to my information posted above on June 27, 2006, from the Fall River Library’s clippings file. It was demolished almost fifty years ago.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 19, 2013 at 3:00 pm

The Empire was one of several theaters in Fall River that were designed by local architectural firm J.M. Darling & Son (Joseph M. Darling and George S. Darling.)

Ron_Arruda
Ron_Arruda on January 15, 2015 at 2:51 pm

After the Empire was demolished, and before the current Justice Center with its courthouse was on site, there was what we called the Mimi Mall, for maybe 25 years. Pretty forgetable. This is a wonderful site! Thank you!

Ron_Arruda
Ron_Arruda on January 15, 2015 at 2:52 pm

Oh, and any way we can get a close look at that wonderful glazed facade and stained glass! If only!

Bopster
Bopster on March 16, 2015 at 11:50 pm

This link will display 3 photos of the Empire in Fall River: https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=38472579@N00&q=Empire%20Fall%20River

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 7, 2017 at 6:46 pm

12/3/53 image added courtesy of Raymond Storey.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 7, 2026 at 1:16 am

Grand opening ad:

Empire theatre opening

Article from Nov 13, 1918 Fall River Globe (Fall River, Massachusetts)

rivest266
rivest266 on May 7, 2026 at 1:28 am

reopening: August 24th, 1939

Empire theatre reopening

Article from Aug 24, 1939 The Herald News (Fall River, Massachusetts)

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