Property Record
710 N PLANKINTON AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Riverside Theater/Empire Building |
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| Other Name: | Empire Building |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 41778 |
| Location (Address): | 710 N PLANKINTON AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1928 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2004 |
| Historic Use: | theater/opera house/concert hall |
| Architectural Style: | Spanish/Mediterranean Styles |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Kirchhoff & Rose |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | West Side Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 12/22/2000 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. The Riverside Theater was restored in 1984. Example of large classicized commercial block in downtown Milwaukee. Like other commercial buildings of its era along W. Wisconsin Ave., the Empire Building was constructed for offices and a major theater. (See also: Carpenter Building, 536 W. Wisconsin Ave.; Centre Building, 2112 W. Wisconsin Ave.). The Orpheum organization buildt the Riverside Theater to seat 2436 persons, making it among the largest (though not among the most ornate) in Milwaukee. It opened in 1928 and featured both movies and Vaudeville and stage shows for many years. The theater still operates under the name of U.A. Riverside. For plans and historic interior photographs see "American Theatres of Today" by Betts & Sexton, Volume 2, Pages 108-112 (copy available at MPL Central Library Art Reference Collection) Previously surveyed in 1984 with map code 146/15. Map name was 392. |
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| Bibliographic References: | "American Theatres of Today" by Betts & Sexton, Volume 2, Pages 108-112. Headley, Robert. "The Theaters of Milwaukee", Journal of the Theater Historical Society, 1971, v. 3, no. 1, p. 3-4. MILWAUKEE HISTORIC BUILDINGS TOUR: KILBOURNTOWN, CITY OF MILWAUKEE DEPARTMENT OF CITY DEVELOPMENT, 1994. Tax Program. Building Permit Records. Milwaukee City Directories, 1927, 1928. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |