The Empire opened as the Portal Theatre at 85 West Portal Avenue in 1925.
Location: 85 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Opened: December 26, 1925
Although no architecturally significant structures have been designated on West Portal Avenue, the movie theater has been a fixture since it opened as the "Portal Theatre" on December 26, 1925. Local architect Irving Morrow (of Morrow & Garren) originally designed a more open entry courtyard for the theatre and business block, but much of his 1923 plan, including a Moorish style was carried out.
Renamed and re-opened on October 1, 1936 as the "Empire," it had its single screen split into three in 1974. In the twenty-first century it has been promoted as "CinéArts at the Empire."
Portal Theatre, later named the Empire, at 85 West Portal Avenue in 1925., Dec 1925 - San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Empire Cinema, formerly the Portal and later CineArts, at 85 West Portal Avenue in 1966., Jun 1966 - 
Rendering by architect Irving Morrow for West Portal theater and shops at Vicente Street, 1923., Jun 21, 2001 - Irving F. and Gertrude Comfort Morrow Collection, Environmental Design Archives, UC Berkeley
The West Portal History Walk
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Page launched 22 January 2002
