The Empress Theatre opened in 1916 originally as a Burlesque show for the local miners at Kennecott. In 1917 it began showing silent movies. The theater remained open as a movie theater through at least 1930.

Stephen Barker, a historian-writer, purchased the Empress Theatre and Gem Theatre, and in 1978 began renovating them as part of a Magna City restoration project. Barker hoped to reopen the Empress Theatre for live performances and art films in January or February 1979, but apparently his plans never came to fruition.

Leo W. Ware (a local actor associated with the Hale Center Theater) became the owner of the Empress Theatre after trading for it in a real estate deal in 1983. Ware worked for over a decade, almost single-handedly to renovate the Empress Theatre for live theater. He invested $30,000 in the renovation and worked for hundreds of hours to rip up tile, remove paint from brick and wood, tear down and erect interior walls, replace floors and repair the roof. Some improvements to the exterior of the building were funded by grants from Salt Lake County, the National Park Service, and the Utah Division of State History. Speaking of the hard labor of remodeling, Ware said, "It's only work if you'd rather be doing something else. I'd rather be doing this."

An early obstacle to his efforts came in July 1984, shortly after he obtained the building. Salt Lake County commissioners decided to raze the "abandoned" Empress Theatre citing it as an unsafe structure. They later reversed their decision and gave Ware until December 1st, 1984 to resolve the structural concerns.

An accident and its subsequent physical limitations later prevented Leo from completing the work on the theater.

In 2006 the Oquirrh Hills Performing Arts Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing culture and education to the Magna community and surrounding areas, leased the Empress Theatre building and continues renovation of the historic structure. The theatre reopened on 4 November 2006 with "Forever Plaid," a traditional favorite.

Leo Ware and his family were able to attend one of the first performances of "Forever Plaid" in the now reopened theater. We are grateful he was able to see his dream come true. Sadly, two months later, Leo passed away January 3rd, 2007, but his accomplishments and amazing legacy live on.

Renovation continues, but the show must go on!