Brin Theatre

The link is not working. This story from 1969 may have been premature:

Brin Bowl, Theater To Close Forever, Structure Razed

MENASHA - The Brin Theater and a bowling alley in the same building have been closed down permanently and are being dismantled, according to the manager of the theater chain that owns the downtown landmark. Henry Tollette, Neenah, manager of Marcus Theater Enterprises, said the decision was made due to numerous factors including lack of convenient parking space which hurt the operation of the movie house and recent mushrooming of new bowling alley establishments which cut into the Brin Bowl operations.

He added, however, that the 40-theater Marcus chain would be interested in participating in the downtown redevelopment project by building a theater. "If there's going to be space available for a theater," Tollette said, "certainly we'll build a theater there." The present Brin Building is shown as parking area in downtown redevelopment plans, but a theater is included in a retail complex proposed to be built east on Main Street from the present theater. The theater seats, projectors and other equipment in the theater and the equipment in the bowling area are being dismantled, Tollette said. A sign on the marquee of the theater declaring it temporarily closed has been removed. The closing is permanent, Tollette said. The theater had been remodeled about a year ago with the seating capacity reduced from 1,000 to 840. Tollette said the current trend is to build "smaller, more functional" theaters with 500 to 600 seats. The Marcus chain's new Cinema I theater in Appleton is such a house.

I don’t know how old this property listing is, but it states the building is for sale or lease. The asking price is $ 650,000.00.

http://www.thisproperty.com/realestate/Menasha_real_estate_386.htm

Some of my photos of the Brin can be seen at.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwilke/

Here is an October 1963 ad from the Appleton Post-Crescent:
http://tinyurl.com/2gskzq

Here is a 2007 photo of the Brin Theater building.

The address for the Brin building is 1 Main Street.

The current mayor of Menasha was on the BOD of the Brin Alliance group. He has alot of info. The organ still exists and is owned by someone in the midwest. I toured the Brin in early 2000. If only those walls could talk. The signs of art deco are still within. The fly loft is ready for rigging and wants to perform again...This theatre was built for vaudeville in the 20s. When the war broke out it closed. The bowling alley is still below. The cost to redo the exterior and abate lead paint in asbestos os high although the reward to reopen this grand theatre would be so worth it. anyone interesting in talking about this project contact me. I am dedicated to the survival of Menasha and the Fox River Valley.
...and Johnny LaCount...you may be my next door neighbor growing up on Naymut St.!?!