The Empire Theatre in Lewiston, Maine, opened in November 1903 as a grand performance venue built by Julius Cahn and A.L. Grant. Located on Main Street near the canal, construction involved removing over 7,000 cubic feet of ledge. Designed by architect Claufflin with interior artwork by F.P. Righetti, the Empire featured elaborate decor and seated approximately 1,480 guests across orchestra, balcony, gallery, and box seating. Its debut production was The Yankee Consul, starring Raymond Hitchcock, marking the beginning of its prominence as a cultural hub.

In the decades following its opening, the Empire Theatre transitioned from live stage performances to cinema. It came under the control of Maine & New Hampshire Theatres and later a Paramount subsidiary. During the 1940s, the building underwent significant changes, transforming into a "movie palace" with the removal of many of its ornate interior features. Despite enjoying popularity as a single-screen theater, it began to decline in the 1950s, reflecting broader industry trends as multiplexes and television became dominant.

The Empire Theatre ultimately closed its doors on April 25, 1982, after screening the film Vice Squad. Though vacant and stripped of much of its facade, the building remained a haunting presence in downtown Lewiston for over two decades. In 2005, the structure was demolished to make way for a parking lot. Locals who witnessed its final days recalled glimpses of its former elegance—red velvet seats, the original ticket booth, and echoes of its once-vibrant role in the community’s cultural life.