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Empress Theatre

219 N. Citrus Ave. Covina, CA 91723 | map |

Opened: 1911. It was on the west side of the street in the middle of the block between Cottage Dr. and College St.

Thanks to Ron Pierce for researching the theatre. His 2009 report: 

"C.F. Clement built the Empress Theatre and opened it on September 4, 1911, and leased it to Clyde Champion and Clyde Worsham. The Covina Argus said the building was 100' by 50' in dimensions and an opening ad proclaimed: ‘A New, Specially Built, Fire Proof Play-House Fit With Three Exits In The Rear, One In The Side And Two In Front. This Theatre Has Passed The Underwriter’s Inspection Regarding Fire Protection, And Especial Attention Has Been Paid To The Comfortable Seating Of The Patrons.’ ‘The Finest Motion Pictures That Can Be Obtained And Illustrated Songs.’

"On November 13, they received competition when the Isis Theatre opened next door. On November 18, their lease was taken over by the Ellingsworth brothers who ran theaters in Los Angeles. In 1954 the Argus-Citizen said that after a few years of competition the Isis Theatre won out when the Empress Theatre closed. The building still remains in downtown Covina and is used as a store."

Closed: The date is unknown. Perhaps sometime around 1918.

Its neighbor the Isis, at 217 N. Citrus, was renamed the Star Theatre in 1915. It closed in December 1921 when its operators opened their new Covina Theatre a block farther south.

Status: The remodeled building still survives as restaurant and office space.  
 
 
 
Looking south toward College St. The Empress was in the skinny building on the right that, downstairs, is the north bay of the Ola Restobar. That building has been combined with the building in the center. They use a 211 address for the restaurant while the upstairs offices of the two buildings use 213 to 219 N. Citrus addresses. The north bay of the building in the center, now the restaurant entrance, once housed the Isis/Star Theatre. Photo: Google Maps - 2019
 

A view south in the alley. The newer concrete block building on the left is at 221. The first older building was once the home of the Empress. The bay closest to us of the next building was once home to the Isis/Star Theatre. Photo: Google Maps - 2019

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the Empress Theatre where Ron's research appears.  

See the pages here on this site about the Star Theatre and the Covina Theatre.

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