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Building History

Seeking investment properties, the local chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) commissioned the construction of the Empress Theatre. The I.O.O.F. selected a local architect, William A. Jones, to do the design and contracted with the Sullivan and Considine vaudeville company to supply acts. A 940-seat venue, the Empress opened on 02/14/1912. A year later, the I.O.O.F. signed a management contract with another vaudeville promoter, the Bert Levey Circuit, with the hopes of raising revenue; this promoter changed the name of the theatre from the Empress to the "Republic," a name that stuck for only two years. Thomas O'Day took on the lease to the Republic in 1916 and again rechristened the place, this time as the "The New Vallejo." This name was used between 1916-1929.

The Fox West Coast Theatres exhibition chain took over the venue in 1929 and added $20,000 worth of sound film projection equipment; Fox renamed the "Vallejo" The "Fox Senator" between 1929-1951. The Senator became the "Crest" in 1952 when Northern California movie exhibitor Ray Syufy took over the place, and in 1962, due to competition from television, closed it as a film exhibition location. William Elliott, Sr., a real estate businessman, and his family purchased the building in the 1978 and returned the theatre to its roots, renaming it the Empress. Following the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, Elliott sold the property in 2001 not wanting to spend nearly a half million to seismically upgrade it. Two men, Rick Sylvain and Brad Peck, bought the Empress from Elliott in 03/2001. They were unable to renovate it, and sold it to Robert Litwin and Mel Gomez, in 2003.

Triad Communities bought the theatre in 2004 and partnered with the City of Vallejo and the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation (VCAF), Incorporated, to renovate and re-use the Empress as a community performing arts center. It reopened in 2008.

Building Notes

The Empress Theatre was named Vallejo Landmark #17.

Alteration

A new manager, Thomas O'Day, spent $5,000 on new interior furnishings in 1916.

A fire on 03/28/1930 seriously damaged the interior; between 1930-1931 the Fox West chain rebuilt the interior, demolishing its balcony, putting in stepped stadium seats and adding a Men's Toilet/Smoking Room and a Women's Toilet/Cosmetic Room. A neon marquee also was added in the 1931.

The Skouras Theatre Decoration company remodeled the interior in 1952. At some point, the number of seats was cut in half.

The Empress Theatre sustained $400,000 worth of damage in the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 10/17/1989.