Abandoned Theatre

The Sampson Theatre – Penn Yan, New York

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in February 2025. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

View from the side of the balcony.

The Sampson Theatre in Penn Yan, New York originally opened on October 12, 1910. Built by local benefactor Dr. Frank Sampson, it was designed as a vaudeville house and entertainment venue. The grand opening featured a speech by President Theodore Roosevelt and a performance of Louis Mann’s comedy, “The Cheater.” The event drew a sell out crowd, with reserved seating priced at $3 and balcony seats available for 25 to 50 cents. 

The exterior of the theater in 2021.

For nearly two decades, the Sampson Theatre showcased major theatrical productions, including adaptations of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” George M. Cohan’s “Broadway Jones,” and operettas like “H.M.S. Pinafore.” The venue also featured silent films such as D.W. Griffith’s controversial “The Birth of a Nation” and popular serials like “The Perils of Pauline.” Vaudeville acts brought renowned performers to Penn Yan, including Joe Yule, father of Hollywood star Mickey Rooney. Local talent also graced the stage, with students from Penn Yan Academy participating in performances.

View from the stage area, with some remnants of the false ceiling framing still visible.

The theater’s use began to decline in the late 1920s as motion pictures gained popularity. In 1928, Harry C. Morse purchased the building and converted it into an indoor miniature golf course. In 1936, Wells Jewett repurposed it as an automobile garage and showroom, leading to significant alterations, including the removal of parts of the balcony. Over the decades, the building housed a car dealership and later a tire warehouse, operated by the Trombley family. Despite these changes, the structure retained its historic identity and significance.

In 2004, the Trombley family gifted the building to the Penn Yan Theatre Company (PYTCo), which began efforts to restore the theater to its original function as a performance venue. The Sampson Theatre has been recognized as an important historic site, listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Its early use of reinforced poured concrete construction was innovative for a small-town setting, contributing to the building’s longevity despite years of modifications.

The Sampson Theatre revitalization project has received significant support, including grants from the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s Historic Preservation program and the Keuka Area Fund. The funding aids restoration efforts such as installing vestibule doors and a box office. The theater was also selected as one of the Landmark Society’s inaugural “Five to Revive” preservation priorities. PYTCo continues to work toward its mission of enriching the community by reviving this historic entertainment center, bringing live performances and cultural events back to the heart of Penn Yan.

Shea’s Theatre – Ashtabula, Ohio

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in January 2025. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

Shea’s Theater, located in the heart of Downtown Ashtabula, Ohio, opened its doors in 1949 during the height of the city’s industrial boom. Designed by Michael J. DeAngelis in the Streamline Moderne style, the theater was a $1 million investment by M.A. Shea with seating for 1,530 guests.

The theater’s heyday coincided with Ashtabula’s economic peak in the 1950s, when the city thrived as a bustling port town along the Great Lakes. Iconic stars like Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and Clark Gable graced its screen, while live performances by artists like “Polka King” Frank Yankovic drew record-breaking crowds of nearly 1,700 people.

Despite its initial success, Shea’s began to struggle by the 1970s. Newer theaters in Saybrook Township provided stiff competition, and declining attendance, coupled with financial woes, forced the theater to close in 1973. At the time, the corporation owed significant back taxes and rent, signaling the difficulties of maintaining such a large venue. Efforts to revive Shea’s were made throughout the late 1970s, with the building reopening as a public auditorium in 1977. It briefly hosted live theater, concerts, and community events, but poor attendance and insufficient funding led to its final closure in 1982.

Though its auditorium went dark, Shea’s remained a part of Ashtabula’s community in a limited capacity. A portion of the building became the Ashtabula Senior Center, while the theater’s iconic seats were refurbished and repurposed for the Ashtabula Arts Center. Behind a makeshift wall, the grand main hall sat untouched, a reminder of the theater’s former glory.

The current owner of the theater plans to revive the building in phases beginning with the restoration of its façade and marquee. The hope is to create excitement and community engagement by hosting smaller events in the revamped space while generating momentum for a full-scale restoration. It was recently given a a $500,000 grant from Ohio’s capital budget Although significant funding is still needed, local leaders believe the revitalization of the Shea’s could serve as a catalyst for bringing new energy to Downtown Ashtabula. Work has begun restoring the entryway and lobby of the theater.

Behind the Curtain: What’s Coming in 2025

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Auditorium, Elitch Theatre – Denver, Colorado.

Happy 2025!

As we step into 2025, I’m excited to share what’s on the horizon for After the Final Curtain.

Workshops in 2025

This year, I’m introducing destination workshops designed for those who share a passion for photographing and preserving historic spaces. While I’ll still host a few local sessions, the focus will be on two major events: one in late spring/early summer and another in the fall. Each workshop will take place at multiple locations, giving us a chance to capture and celebrate the beauty of historic theaters in different settings. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, these workshops will be a fantastic opportunity to refine your skills and immerse yourself in these architectural gems.

Patreon: Exclusive Content for Theater Enthusiasts

For those who want even more, my Patreon page is the place to be. Many of my 2025 posts are already available there, including expanded features, behind-the-scenes insights, and video walkthroughs of historic theaters. Patreon also gives you early access to new content and a closer look at my creative process. If you’re as captivated by historic theaters as I am, I’d love to have you join the community! You can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain.

Monthly Posts on After the Final Curtain

I’ve been hard at work finishing up my posts for 2025 and am already scheduled through August—just a few months left to go! Here on the main site, I’ll continue to share one post a month. These will highlight the history, beauty, and stories behind some of the most incredible theaters I’ve visited. Whether you’re following along here or on Patreon, there’s plenty to look forward to.

Thank you for your continued support and shared passion for historic theaters and photography. I’m so grateful to have this community and can’t wait the next year brings.

Here’s to another year of preserving and celebrating these remarkable spaces!

The Capitol Theatre – Davenport, Iowa

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in April 2023. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

View of the auditorium from the balcony.

Located within the historic 10-story Kahl building in Davenport, Iowa, the Capitol Theatre has been a cultural cornerstone since its completion in early October 1920. Constructed by Henry C. Kahl, the building not only housed office spaces and retail outlets but also a 2,500 seat theater designed by renowned architects Rapp & Rapp, famous for their work on iconic venues such as the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY, and the Uptown Theatre in Chicago, IL.

The theater’s main entrance and stairway.

The Capitol, which cost $680,000 at the time (equivalent to $10.6 million today), opened its doors on December 25, 1920, with the screening of the silent film “The Man Who Lost Himself” starring William Faversham and Hedda Hopper. The inaugural event was accompanied by a performance on the impressive M.P. Moller Opus 2939 pipe organ, a $60,000 instrument that required five freight cars for transportation to the theater.

View of the auditorium ceiling from the stage.

The orchestra level of the auditorium featured alcoves housing a grand piano and a harp. The theater’s aesthetic was further enhanced by paintings adorning the lobby, foyer, and balcony. Under the management of Paramount Pictures Inc. subsidiary A.H. Blank by 1941, the Capitol Theatre became a hub for both vaudeville performances and movies. Notably, it hosted the legendary Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and Dion & the Belmonts on January 29, 1959, just days before the plane crash on February 3, 1959, that took the lives of Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper, forever immortalized as “The Day the Music Died.”

Statler and Waldorf, two muppets, were placed in a box seat and left behind after the theater closed.

In subsequent years, the theater underwent several transformations, from showcasing Spanish language films in the early 1970s to screening adult XXX movies in the late 1970s. It was repurposed as a Christian Center in the 1980s and a concert hall for various genres in the 1990s, it eventually became a hub for local productions of ballet, community theater, and college performances.

In 2010, the Capitol Theatre closed its doors. In 2020, a $25 million renovation project commenced, transforming the building into the JNB Capitol Building of Bettendorf. The theater reopened on September 23, 2023 with a concert by the American post-hardcore band Dayseeker. The renovation recreated some features that had been lost and preserved marble floors and artwork. Alongside the theater, the 10-story building now boasts 65 apartments. Free tours of the theater are offered daily at 3 PM, 4 PM, and 5 PM.

Modjeska Theatre – Milwaukee, WI

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in December 2023. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

Modjeska Theatre auditorium as seen from the balcony.

View of the auditorium from the balcony.

The original Modjeska Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened its doors in 1910. It was named in honor of Madame Helena Modjeska, a celebrated stage actress who had passed away in 1909. In 1920, Saxe Theatres, a Wisconsin theater chain founded by John and Thomas Saxe, purchased the theater. They ran it for a few years before demolishing it to make way for a neighborhood movie palace.

View of the auditorium from the stage.

Saxe enlisted the renowned architectural firm Rapp & Rapp, known for their work on theaters such as the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY, the Uptown Theatre in Chicago, IL, and the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City, NJ, to design a new 2,500-seat neighborhood movie palace. The new Modjeska Theatre, opened on August 2, 1924, was more modestly designed compared to other Rapp & Rapp theaters, but still featured a full stage-house suitable for vaudeville performances. It also featured a Golden Voiced Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 3/10. 

The Lobby of the theater.

The theater underwent various changes over the years, including the removal of the organ and pipes in the 1950s. The organ chambers were repurposed to install air conditioning units. It continued showing films until 1989. In 1991, the building was purchased by Stewart Johnson, and transformed into a live venue. 

The seats on the lower level were removed in preperation for a restoration that never happened.

During this time, many famous acts performed at theater including; David Byrne, Alice in Chains, Gregg Allman, Rob Zombie, and They Might Be Giants. In 1993, Johnson received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission for his efforts in revitalizing and preserving the theater.

Projection Booth - Modjeska Theatre Milwaukee, WI

The projection booth still has some equipment in it.

In December 2006, the Johnsons sold the theater for $450,000 to Modjeska Theater Project, a partnership between a nonprofit youth theater company and Mitchell Street DOC. However, the youth theater company folded in April 2010, leaving Mitchell Street DOC with the building.

 

The theater closed its doors in May 2010, but renovations began in 2014, with an expected completion date of March 2016. Unfortunately, those plans fell through, and the theater remained dormant until June 2023 when new plans were announced to convert it into the Modjeska Arena and Gaming Institute.

Fire Curtain - Modjeska Theatre Milwaukee, WI

A close up of the fire curtain.

Real estate investor Justin Smith reached a preliminary agreement to purchase the property, envisioning a world-class esports arena as the main attraction, along with hosting local events. The proposed esports arena aims to be a strong anchor for the Mitchell Street Business Improvement District’s western end. Smith, a first-time developer, is working to secure investors and financing for the project, with hopes of completing the purchase by October 2023. 

View of the auditorium from the rear of the balcony.

Spring and Summer Photo Workshops 2024

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Fox West Theatre in Trinidad, Colorado

I’m excited to finally announce the first round of Photography Workshops for 2024. As I’ve said elsewhere – this will be my last year doing workshops in their current form.

 

Strand Theatre – Clinton, MA

Strand Theatre

Location: Clinton, MA

Date: April 27, 2024

The Theatre: The Strand Theatre opened in 1924, in Clinton, Massachusetts. It closed in 2021 after years as a dinner theater.

Cost: $80.00

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/strand-theatre-workshop-clinton

Olympia Theatre Worcester, MA

Olympia (Art) Theatre

Location: Worcester, MA

Date/Time:
May 11, 2024

The Theatre: The Art Theatre opened in 1891 as Lothrop’s Opera House and is the oldest surviving theater in Worcester, MA. It went through a number of names including; The Olympia Theater, Lynch’s Pleasant Theater, Fine Arts Theater, and finally the New Art Cinema. It closed in 2006.

Cost: $80.00

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/arttheatreworkshop2024

Fox West Theatre

Location: Trinidad, Colorado

Date: June 22, 2024

The Theatre: The Fox Theatre in Trinidad, Colorado made its grand debut on March 16, 1908, showcasing the stage play “The Bondman.” Over the years, it served as a versatile venue for a variety of performances including stage shows, vaudeville acts, opera, and silent films. It closed in 2013, making it one of the longest running single screen theaters in the country.

Cost: $160.00

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/foxwestworkshop1021

Opera House, Hotel and Tunnels Workshop

Location: Trinidad, Colorado

Date/Time: June 23, 2024

The Opera House:
In 1882, Trinidad’s inaugural opera house emerged amidst much celebration courtesy of the Jaffa brothers—Sam, Sol, and Henry. For twenty-four years, it resonated with the melodies of plays, brass bands, and the rhetoric of public speakers before its curtains closed in 1906. Responding to the town’s pragmatic ethos, the auditorium morphed into an office block and an extension of the neighboring Wight Hotel.

Resilience characterized its trajectory as the edifice endured a 5.3-magnitude earthquake in 2011, sustaining significant damage. Despite expert voices advocating for its demise, the community united in a bid to salvage and restore their historic gem.

We will also have access to an old hotel building downtown as well as some tunnels that run underneath the city.

Cost: $120.00

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/trinidadoperahouse

Strand Theatre

Location: Boston, MA

Date/Time: June 30, 2024

The Theatre: The Strand Theatre opened on November 11, 1918, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was designed by Boston architectural firm Funk and Wilcox, who also designed the nearby Franklin Park Theatre. It is currently used for live events.

Cost: $75.00

Tickets: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops/strand-theatre-workshop-boston-ma826

As always – I have some other workshops planned for later this year. If there are any you’d like me to revisit or suggested locations – let me know!

Loew’s Boulevard Theatre – Bronx, NY

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in January 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

Balcony, Loew's Boulevard Theatre - Bronx, NY

View of the remains of the balcony.

On November 1, 1913, the Loew’s Boulevard Theatre opened in the Bronx, NY. Marcus Loew, founder of Loew’s Incorporated, was one of the 2,800 people who attended the opening night celebrations. Loew announced ‌the theater would feature “small time” vaudeville and motion pictures. Thomas W. Lamb, famed theater architect, redesigned the interior of the Boulevard in 1917. During the remodel, a three-manual Möller organ was installed to accompany the films and live performances. Loew’s Inc. remodeled it again in 1932, but this time to better equip it for talking motion pictures. 

Organ Chamber, Boulevard Theatre - Bronx, NY

Most of the organ chambers were destroyed when the balcony was separated from the orchestra level.

The Boulevard was one of 24 nearby theaters to start a program of one night vaudeville in June 1949. Vaudeville continued into late 1950, but by then the Boulevard was one of only ten other theaters in the program. They discontinued it soon after. Loew’s closed the Boulevard in the late 1960s, and it soon reopened as an independent theater dropping the “Loew’s” from its name. It continued showing motion pictures, but hosted live events from time to time, including a Circus in September 1972. The Boulevard changed formats and became a Spanish language theater in the late 1970s before closing for good in the mid-1980s. 

Five Brothers Furniture took over the building soon after it closed and gutted the lower level, turning it into their showroom. Five Brothers remained in the building until the late 2000s, when it was replaced by Planet Fitness, a fitness club franchise. Planet Fitness cleaned up the facade of the building, but did not touch the balcony, which is the only part of the original theater that remains to this day.

 

You can hear the sounds of workout machines and fitness classes while you’re in the balcony.

Exhibition at The Kerlin Gallery in York, PA

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The Kerlin Gallery, one of the Creative York galleries in York, PA is currently exhibiting 16 pieces of my work.  They range from 30×20 prints on aluminum to smaller framed prints.

The exhibition runs from Thursday, January 27 to Thursday, February 17, 2022. The opening reception is Thursday, January 27 from 6 to 8pm.

I will be at Creative York on Thursday, February 17 at 5pm for the closing reception. Following this reception, I’ll be speaking at the nearby Capitol Theatre at 7pm.

Hope to see some of you there!

California Theatre – San Diego, CA

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This post was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in April 2021. You can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

Balcony of the California Theatre in San Diego

View of the auditorium from the balcony.

Once billed as “the cathedral of motion pictures” and “an enduring contribution to the artistic beauty of the entire Southland,” The California Theatre in San Diego, CA will be demolished. It could be said its destruction has been ongoing in the last 30 years due to inadequate maintenance. Southern California does not have harsh winters, but it gets rain, and when water comes into a building, it can do significant damage, especially if it’s full of ornamental plasterwork.

California Theatre Auditorium from the Stage

It was named the New California Theatre because there was already a California Theatre in San Diego in 1927. The original California changed its name to the Aztec in 1930, which allowed this one to drop the “new” from its name.

Architect John Paxton Perrine designed the 2,200-seat theater in Spanish Colonial Revival style. The building also housed several restaurants and a high-end department store, Bernard’s, which occupied the entire second floor. It began as a silent film and a Vaudeville theater, before turning to talkies in 1931. Eventually, ornate theater interiors went out of style, and the decorative plasterwork in California’s auditorium was covered by draperies during a remodel in 1963. The California stopped showing films in 1976, and became a performing arts center in 1978. Many famous bands performed at the theater during this time, including; A-HA, Poison, Pete Seeger, The Jerry Garcia Band, Donny Osmond, Jesus and Mary Chain, Melissa Etheridge, The Smithereens, Alice Cooper, Cowboy Junkies, Lou Reed, and Patti Smith.

The lobby of the California Theatre in San Diego

Joseph F Malloy, the theater’s original assistant manager, was shot and killed during a robbery on May 7, 1928.

Ariel Wharton (A.W.) Coggeshall, a San Diego-based businessman, bought the building in 1976. When he died in 1986, he left California to a group of non-profit organizations. The nonprofits formed a consortium called Fourth and C Corp. They were not interested in owning a 2,200-seat theater and planned to sell it to Hillman Properties, a Pittsburgh-based developer. Hillman planned to demolish the building and build a 34-story office complex. Fourth and C Corp gave the tenants of the office building, many of which were month-to-month, 30 days to leave in April 1990. Avalon Attractions, the company that managed the theater, was given until July 1990. The last performances were the Cowboy Junkies on June 20, 1990 and the Final Curtain Concert at the California Theatre, held by the Theatre Organ Society of San Diego on June 24, 1990.

The fire curtain and proscenium arch of the California Theatre in San Diego, CA

The feature presentation on opening night was “Venus of Venice,” a silent romantic comedy starring Constance Talmadge and Antonio Moreno. “Book Ideas,” a vaudeville show by Fanchon and Marco, and a performance by Al Lyons and his band rounded out the opening bill.

However, it wouldn’t be that easy to demolish the California, as it was a historic site grade three, which protected it from being demolished. Fourth and C Corp petitioned the San Diego City Council to change the designation to grade four, which would allow demolition as long as the historic features were recorded. They held a vote in February 1991 and voted 5-to-2 to change the listing. Hillman Properties abandoned the project in October 1991 due to the impact of the economic recession of 1990-1991. The building was bought and sold a few times in the 1990s and early 2000s, with plans for the theater ranging from a Christian performing arts center to a playhouse with occasional films.

Orchestra Level, California Theatre San Diego, CA

View of the auditorium from the orchestra level.

Sloan Capital Partners LLC purchased the California building in 2006. Sloan partnered with Caydon Property Group, an Australian company, to redevelop the property. Caydon’s plans called for the theater to be demolished and replaced by a 41-story condominium tower. Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), a San Diego based historic preservation nonprofit, filed a legal challenge to the demolition of the building on March 1, 2018. The court granted the legal petition because the environmental impact report did not analyze any adaptive reuse alternatives for the theater, required by the California Environmental Quality Act.

Looby of the California Theatre in San Diego,CA.

The California was the first public venue in San Diego to have earthquake resistant framework built into the structure to protect the building.

SOHO and Caydon eventually agreed the lobby and much of the exterior facade would be reconstructed. They also agreed to work with SOHO to identify historic items in the building that could be repurposed. Caydon recently purchased the property from Sloan for $21.1M. It is currently scheduled to be demolished in 2021, with the construction of the new building beginning shortly afterwards.

Auditorium from the side of the stage - California Theatre San Diego, CA

The Wurlitzer organ was removed from the theater after it closed. It went to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley, CA, but was destroyed by arson in March 1996.

Emery Theatre – Cincinnati, Ohio

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This post was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in Jan 2021. You can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

Want to see the Emery for yourself? It’s one of the new photography workshop locations for 2023. Find out more at: https://www.mlambrosphotography.com/workshops

View of the auditorium from the middle balcony.

Built as part of the Ohio Mechanics Institute, the Emery Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio opened on January 6, 1912 as the Emery Auditorium. It was funded by an endowment of $656,737 ($17.1 million with inflation) from Mary Emery, whose husband, Thomas J. Emery had planned on building a similar school in the city. Emery stipulated as part of the endowment that the auditorium must be open to the public and have at least 1,800 seats. The 2,200-seat theater was designed by Harvey Hannaford of the architectural firm of Samuel Hannaford & Sons. It was one of four “acoustically perfect” concert halls whose design was inspired by the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL. The other three were the Orchestra Hall, also in Chicago, Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Orchestra Hall in Detroit, MI.

View of the auditorium from the stage.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra held an inaugural concert at the theater on January 6, 1912. In 1924, George Gershwin performed his classic composition Rhapsody in Blue at the theater. On April 25, 1936, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra held its final concert at the Emery; it moved to the Cincinnati Music Hall, a space with more seats and more parking. Beginning in 1935 and ending in 1939, the Federal Theatre Project, a program established during the Great Depression as part of the New Deal to fund live entertainment programs, began to use the Emery. From 1938 to 1948, the theater was the home of The Boone County Jamboree, an American Country Radio Program. A 500,000-watt transmitter was used by station WLW so that millions of people around the country could listen to the program.

The Emery has a very small lobby when compared to many other theaters built around the same time.

The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the Emery on June 16, 1959 while he was campaigning for Ted Berry during Berry’s run for Cincinnati City Council. The University of Cincinnati (UC) took ownership of the Emery building in 1969, when the Ohio Mechanics Institute was incorporated into the university. A Wurlitzer Opus 1680 organ moved to the Emery from the nearby Keith’s Theater the same year, but was not completely installed until 1977. That same year, the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society began programming shows on the weekends. They held organ concerts, showed silent, talking, and 3D films, and reduced the seating by closing the upper balcony. The final organ concert was held on October 24, 1999, after which the Wurlitzer was removed to be restored. It would never return to the Emery, and was installed in the Cincinnati Music Hall’s ballroom in 2004.

Most of the seats on the upper balcony have been removed.

Beginning in November 2011, the Requiem Project, a non-profit group formed in late 2008 to restore the theater, held concerts, film festivals and recording sessions at the Emery. The National, Dirty Projectors, Carrie Rodriguez, Ralph Stanley and others performed at the theater during this time. The Requiem Project hired John Senhauser Architects and Westlake Reed Leskosky, two architecture firms, to create the restoration plans for the Emery. However, the Emery Center Corporation, who subleased the theater from Emery Center

Apartments Limited Partnership (ECALP), who in turn leased it from UC, shut down all programming in 2013. According to Kathy Schwab, head of the Emery Center Corp in 2013, programming was stopped due to the theater’s dilapidated state and because everything had to be approved by UC. The Requiem Project sued to try to continue their renovation efforts at the theater, but eventually settled in March 2016. On April 23, 2019, the UC board of trustees voted to sell the Emery; according to them, it is beyond repair. It was sold for $8.55 million to local developers who intend to restore the building. The restoration costs are estimated at around $30 million and will take about three years to complete.

The theater’s vertical sign is stored in one of the former offices in the building.

View of the auditorium from the orchestra level.