Kenosha Theater

First of all, some factual corrections. Our website domain name has changed to www.kenoshatheatre.org The theatre sat 2300 people, and has been described by more than one theater historian as a "shotgun" theatre. The house is very long, but not very wide. This contributes to the excellent acoustics, even to this day. The Kenosha was once part of the Universal chain in its early days, then became part of the Warner Brother's chain in the 30's, then Standard Theaters until closing. In 1963, Standard sold the building and placed a deed restriction stating that it could not be used as a theater for 30 years (Standard owned the Lake Theater up the street, and didn't want competition) For a time the space was used for a flea market, then as warehouse space until being vacated in the late 70's. Currently, the apartments above the lobby have been renovated and are occupied, and the building is very safe from the wrecking ball.

Right now, the non-profit KTRP is working on defenite restoration plans so we have something to go to when we ask for funding. Several open houses held this summer have helped to bring the project into the public eye. Most, if not all, comments we recieved were very positive. If you would like to schedule a tour for yourself our your group please call us at 262-658-2355 or email at pete@kenoshatheatre.org

What's the current status of this atmospheric theatre in Kenosha WI?

Pete: Sent an email to your address, but was undeliverable. Please advise.

Also sent an email to the www.kenoshatheatre.org website and it, too, was undeliverable.

Try http://kenoshatheater.com/ There's also a Yahoo community for the restoration efforts at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenoshatheatre/

This is pretty cool:

http://homepage.mac.com/jeffbaas/iMovieTheater13.html

Anything going on with this theatre currently?

Extra extra, gangster hood goes free after burglary of theater:

TARELLO JURY DISCHARGED IN DISAGREEMENT

April 27, 1929 - Failing to agree after more than 20 hours deliberation, the jury trying Angelo Tarello,
Chicago gangster, for complicity in the burglary of the Kenosha theater here last December, was discharged in circuit court at 9:45 this morning by Judge Byron B. Park, Stevens Point, who heard the case for Judge E. B. Belden. Meanwhile, David and Alex Dotz, found guilty of complicity in the same burglary on March 26, and who were sentenced from 16 to 19 and 15 to 18 years in the Green Bay reformatory, respectively, last night, were started for that place on a train at four o'clock this morning.

It was reported in the court room this morning that the jury had stood divided 8-4 for conviction almost from the beginning and that further deliberations were unable to effect any change in its attitude. The state announced that it planned to bring Tarello to trial again for the offense at the earliest possible opportunity.

According to their story, night watchman Alex Dotz had been forced to participate in the affair by Tarello's repeated threats. He let Tarello and a companion into the theater and permitted himself to be bound to a chair after the safe had been ransacked—"to make it look like a real job." Meanwhile his brother, David, then a member of the police force, had stationed himself in the balcony of the theater, planning to protect his brother and arrest the burglars before they could affect a getaway. However, he testified, that he lost his "nerve" and could not go through with the plan.

Upon completion of testimony in the Tarello case, Judge Park called the Dotz brothers before him to hear arguments for new trials. These were promptly denied, and the judge prepared to sentence the youths. Both were weeping. "I'm not guilty," sobbed Alex, when asked whether he had anything to say. Then he pointed to Tarello. "Before God, there's the man who's guilty." The youth, celebrating his twenty first birthday in the court room, then became hysterical.

As the judge passed sentence Alex collapsed. Two deputies carried him from the court room. His 18-year old wife emerged from the spectators, screamed and ran toward him. She was restrained by police officers. Then she ran to his mother. The pair wept loudly. At the same time, the boy's father, who had been sitting three rows back, jumped to his feet and shook his fists at Tarello. "God will curse you!" he cried.

Any news on what is currently going on with this theater? Not heard anything in quite a long time.

Looks like a bond issue to finance the theatre was under discussion at some point recently.

Here is a recent photo of the Kenosha Theater.

This article appeared in today's Chicago Tribune regarding the proposed restoration of the Kenosha Theatre.

Good luck with that, is all I can say. Expecting the city to co-sign 24 million in bonds? I highly doubt the City of Kenosha would go for that at all.

Also, how would they plan to expand the bathroom stalls from 9 to 50?? Where on Earth would they find the real estate to do it without mangling up the original building? Tho, truth be told I've never been in it and perhaps there is some space that could be converted without altering the theater.

Here's a 1927 postcard view of the KENOSHA Theatre looking to the southeast: http://image60.webshots.com/760/0/91/93/2355091930087069752pkWWLS_ph.jpg

1983 Photo

The December 13, 1952, issue of Boxoffice ran an article about the 25th anniversary of the Kenosha Theatre, mentioning a few highlights of its history. It said that, after two years of operation by Universal, the house had been leased to Warner Brothers in 1929 and then to Standard Theatres five years later. Standard bought the building in 1950.

The opening program on September 1, 1929, included vaudeville acts Bert Gordon, the Arnaut Brothers, and Nancy Gibbs with a company of ten performing an act called "Dear Little Rebel." The first movie shown in the new house was a silent film called "The Irresistible Lover." (Sound films came to the Kenosha in February, 1928.) Ted Stanford played the Wurlitzer organ and Karl Von Hoppe conducted the theater's orchestra.

The theater presented many live acts over the years, including Veloz and Yolonda, Donald O'Connor, and The Three Stooges. Orchestras that performed at the Kenosha included Duke Ellington, Ray Noble, Lawrence Welk, and Bob Crosby. Singing groups appearing included the King Cole Trio and the Mills Brothers.

(Sheboygan Press, December 19, 1928)
Watchman Confesses Kenosha Theatre Robbery Was Frame-Up
Kenosha, Wis.—(AP) — Police announced today that Alexander Dotz,
night watchman at the Kenosha theater which was robbed of $1,022 in cash had confessed that the robbery was a "frame-up" and implicated
four other men, all of whom were under arrest.

The confession also revealed, police said, that Dotz's brother, a special policeman, had watched the robbery from the balcony of the theater, planning to trap the men, but instead lost his nerve and allowed them to get away.

James Martin, 40, proprietor of a roadhouse where Dotz's confession
said the job was planned the day before it took place; Joe Tarrello,
20, and Victor Carbellin, 29, Racine, were under arrest here. The fifth man, Angelo Tarello, 35, was arrested by Chicago police. Tarello was held at the Chicago detective bureau after he refused to
waive extradition, Plans were being made here to request extradition papers at once. Police said Martin had $548.40 in his pockets when arrested just as he was getting his car preparing, they believed, to making a getaway.

Dotz' confession said he told his brother David, 26, about plans for the robbery in which, in addition to the $1,022, a total of $710 of theater ticket books were taken, at 2 p. m. Monday afternoon.
The robbery took place early on Tuesday. The men tied Dotz to a chair where he was found by his wife when she came down to clean up the theater at 5:45 a. m. Tuesday. Dotz in his confession to police said his brother watched the robbery from the balcony but did nothing to stop it. A few hours after the men left, his confession read, the brother came back to see how he was getting along. Tarrello, police believed, was the leader in the robbery. The four men held here were charged with being accessories. Police had not determined what action to take against Dotz's policeman-brother who joined the force a few months ago as a member of the special police group hired to aid in curbing disorder here.