The theatre was built in 1917. Wikipedia says that in 1900 there were “20 families” here. Ok so that’s like 100-150 people? Jump 50 years and the population is 3,502 in 1950 and nearly doubled in population in 10 years to 6,642 in 1960. Using the same logic if it doubled from 125 from 1900 to 1910 that’s a town of 250 and double again by 1920 that’s 500. A town of less than 500 needs 2 theaters? Read below! A town banner on Magna Main Street reads “Established 1906.” This only commemorates the Utah Copper Company coming to Pleasant Green, the original name for Magna when it was established on July 21, 1874 by the Salt Lake County Court. 👇👇👇from Wikipedia with my own thoughts added: Historically, the Empress Theatre (this is the name of the theatre) is one of the oldest and best preserved commercial buildings in Magna, and it is the oldest theatre in the community. At the time of its construction, the Empress Theatre was the second theatre in Magna. The other theatre, “the Palace Theatre” – operated from 1914–17 (The exact same years claimed about this theater?!) but its location (where it was) is currently unknown (???? Is this bc it’s the exact same story and somebody wrote about a theatre after this new narrative was created???). The Empress Theatre was constructed during the period of greatest growth in Magna, the 1910s-20s.