The EMPIRE THEATER opened in 1900 at 788 Huron Ave. Designed by local architect Morris Gleichman, it was the first Cleveland theater built solely for vaudeville. It also was among the first to intersperse short films (In 1901, Empire customers viewed what was billed as “the first authentic movie of Queen Victoria’s funeral”). As more area theaters took on vaudeville shows, the Empire opted in 1904 to add burlesque (more comedy intensive and risqué than vaudeville) and theatrical (full-length) productions, such as Spartacus, The Merchant of Venice, and Romeo and Juliet. By 1907, burlesque had become the dominant fare. In its final years, professional wrestling was added to the Empire’s mix.
Despite its short life as a vaudeville venue, the Empire attracted a wide variety of A-list performers, including Cecilia Loftus (famous Scottish actress, singer, and mimic), Houdini, and Charlie Grapewin, acclaimed actor who, in addition to variety theater, performed in more than 100 silent and sound films (he played Uncle Henry in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz).
In 1925 the Empire was demolished and the Ohio Bell Building (now the AT&T Building) now occupies the site.
Christopher Roy