Opened: 1914 or 1915. In the 1915 city directory it's listed under theatres as Cate & Swann at 2127 W. Pico. The building is located on the north side of the street between Alvarado and Hoover.
The Empire is seen in this detail from a 1928 Dick Whittington Studio
photo looking east on Pico from Hoover. The photo is in the USC Digital Library collection. The full height facade we see here was later sheared off a bit.
Architect: Unknown
Seating: 650
In
the 1917, 1918 and 1921 directories the address is 2131 W. Pico. The
listing as the Empire Theatre in the 1922, 1923 and 1929 directories is
with the address as 2129 W. Pico. In 1926 and 1927 it's back to 2131.
A listing using a 2129 address in an August 31, 1924 Paramount Week ad. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it. He included it in a Facebook thread about the theatre on Ken's Movie Page.
A 1942 L.A. Times listing for the Empire.
"Forbidden Street." By 1949 the Empire's less-than-optimum location was causing it to slide toward mildly salacious sounding titles.
A March 1951 ad for the Italian film "Bitter Rice" from the paper L'Italo-Americano di Los Angeles. Thanks to Gerald A. DeLuca for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures.
A 1952 listing in the Times with the Empire running "Lady Says No" and "Barefoot Mailman."
In 1958 the theatre was running German films.
An October 1959 listing from the Times. The La Tosca also ran German films.
A February 1963 listing in the Times announcing a reopening on February 15 as the Empire Art. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ad.
An April 1963 Empire Arts ad for "The World's Greatest Sinner," written, directed, and
starring the eccentric actor Timothy Carey. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for including this in his Facebook thread about the theatre on Ken's Movie Page.
Jerr
Geller notes that Carey was best known for appearing in Kubrick's
"Paths of Glory." See a facade photo taken during the 15th week of this engagement lower on the page. Myron Meisel notes that this was running shortly before the theatre
closed as a film house and suggests that it was some sort of cheap
four-wall deal. Jack Theakson adds: "Pretty sure Carey four-walled all
of his showings of this film after he couldn't find a distributor."
The Empire Art (or Arts) era didn't last long. It became the West Side Theatre on December 25, 1963. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the name change and Mike Rivest for locating this big December 20 ad. Visit Mike's site: Movie-Theatre.org
A February 1964 Times listing for the West Side Theatre. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ad.
In 1965 the theatre was vacant. There's no listing in that year's phone directory. In 1968 it was listed as the Gayety Theatre and had turned into a porno operation.
A fine 1970 ad for the theatre as the Gayety.
"Adult Films Only." Still in the porno business in 1972.
By 1973 it had become the Fiesta Theatre. Thanks to Mike Rivest for spotting this August 8, 1976 ad. He notes that someone was running Indian movies at the Fiesta later in 1976. He spotted a December ad for "Dharti Ma Chhoru" and "Arzoo."
In the mid-80s as the Teatro Fiesta the theatre was running live Spanish language theatre productions. This 1984 ad for "Agnes of God" was in the L.A. Times.
A 1984 ad in the Times for Peter Shaffer's "Equus."
Closing: The date is unknown. The building was later was used as a swap meet.
Status: The building survives and is currently in use as a church with retail in the spaces on either side of the lobby.
More street views:
1928 - The full Dick Whittington Studio photo from the USC Digital Library collection.
1948 - The theatre hiding behind a rubbish truck. It's a photo from the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library.
late 1950s - A view looking east from the Sean Ault collection. The Empire is over on the left. Thanks, Sean!
1950s - Another shot from Sean Ault. The poor theatre is hiding behind the back of the trolley.
1963 - "15th Week." A look at the Empire's facade from the Bill Gabel collection. The feature is "The World's Greatest Sinner," written, directed, and starring Timothy Carey. Above the marquee on the right is an askew cutout of the actor's head and shoulders. The photo appears on Cinema Treasures.
c.1970 - Looking west from Alvarado. The Empire's marquee is just below the "walk" sign. Thanks to Sean Ault for the photo.
1992 - A view during the riots. The theatre, then called the Fiesta, is on the right. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding the photo.
2003 - A photo from the Sean Ault collection.
2007 - Thanks to Ken McIntyre for this look at the premises.
2009 - The entrance to the former theatre. Photo: Google Maps
2011 - The rear of the Empire is at the center of this Google Maps shot.
The Empire Theatre in the Movies:
We get this shot on Pico looking east across Hoover St. toward the theatre in Harold
Lloyd's 25 minute short "Get Out and Get Under" (Rolin Films/Pathé,
1920). Hal Roach directed with Mildred Davis and Fred McPherson also
starring. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies site for other theatre views appearing in Harold Lloyd films.
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Empire for research by Bill Gabel and other contributors. Joe Vogel notes that the building dates from 1914 with a possible expansion or major renovation in 1922.
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