Empire Theatre

129 Orange Avenue,
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: E.J. Sparks Theatres, Florida State Theaters Inc., Paramount Pictures Inc.

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Vivian Theatre

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Empire Theatre

The 1,200-seat Vivian Theatre was opened on September 11, 1922 with Jackie Coogan in “Trouble”. It was equipped with a Robert-Morton 2 manual organ. It was renamed Empire Theatre on November 26, 1931 with seating still listed at 1,200. The theatre was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks and later by Florida State Theatres.

The Empire Theatre was destroyed by a fire on the evening of April 2, 1956 and the remains have since been demolished.

Contributed by Chuck

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on May 13, 2012 at 3:24 pm

Apparently it was destroyed by fire in 1956 as evidenced by this photo.

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on November 15, 2012 at 7:37 am

Address in header is incorrect. Please change to 129 Orange Ave. Verified correct location with theatre ad in Daytona Beach Morning Journal.

See front page for article on fire that destroyed theatre on April 2, 1956: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=OWslULmvb_UC&dat=19560403&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 16, 2020 at 2:56 pm

Multiple fire photos here.

https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/27492.html

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 16, 2020 at 2:59 pm

I am finding several references to this originally being the Vivian Theatre at the same address and opening prior to 1929. Maybe the Empire name began in 1935?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 17, 2020 at 10:50 am

1929 photo as Vivian Theatre added courtesy Harry Smith. Promotion for “Street Girl”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Girl

rivest266
rivest266 on May 16, 2024 at 10:26 am

The Vivian theatre opened on September 11th, 1922 and reopened as Empire on November 26th, 1931. Closed 1956. The theatre was named after the daughter of owner H. T. Titus, Vivian. Grand opening ads posted.

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