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. 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 20 comments)

nonsportsnut
nonsportsnut on October 23, 2009 at 6:12 pm

The Three Stooges Fan Club is trying to get firm start and finish dates for a Personal Appearance by the Three Stooges Larry, Moe and Curly, at the Empire around Feb. 11, 1942. They also did a Defense Stamps sale in Fall River, and were thanked by Mayor Alexander C. Murray.

If someone has the exact dates of their Empire appearance, please email Frank Reighter at

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 23, 2010 at 5:00 am

Broderick Crawford visits the Empire. Item in Boxoffice magazine, November 24, 1951:
“A procession down the main thoroughfare, a visit to the B.M.C. Durfee High School and meeting prominent residents preceded Broderick Crawford’s personal appearance at the Empire Theatre in conjunction with the showing of ‘The Mob.’”

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.

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