Western Neighborhoods Project is dedicated to the history of San Francisco's Richmond, Sunset, OMI and West of Twin Peaks districts.   read more ...

Empire Cinema (CinéArts)

(formally the Portal Theatre)

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
<<< Previous stop --- Next stop >>>


Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places!

Page launched 22 January 2002

On the Map (click marker for larger map)
 
Related Content

Save SF History