Climax Theater

The architects of the Climax Theater were Duggan & Huff. It was built by Otto Meister and John Freuler who had formed the Central Amusement Company. It seated 867 and has been demolished.

What a name! Sounds like it could have easily made the transition to a porn house. Er, sorry.

The name did get used on at least one porn theater somewhere--I can remember Tony Randall, of all people, talking about it on some TV show in the '70s.

It is odd that the owners chose that name, since the 'climax' in theatrs for Meister and Freuler was opend the same year in the form of the BUTTERFLY, that remarkable facade on downtown's main street of a huge butterfly in light bulbs. It is profiled on this site.

Here is a first hand account of the opening of the Climax in 1911:

"The crowd began as a small group but grew larger and larger as the masses became more excited. The multitude, seething with tumescent anticipation, banged against the doors again and again as the tension built. Finally forcing its way inside, the mob surged in repeated thrusts into the auditorium, filling the cavernous space, until the rabble's energy was spent in one final quivering heave into the seats. The crowd then had a cigarette and went home".

I'm sure that previous poster, "ken mc" considers himself a tremendous wit, but here he proves himself only half right, for while it may have been a glamorous opening of sorts for this neighborhood theatre, his bogus "account" does nothing to enrich the recorded history of theatres, the purpose of this site. Instead his double entendres betray a mind dominated by the salacious, prurient, and filthy; things not acceptable in polite society then, nor now, among any people who could claim to have character.

I know of no printed account of the opening of the Climax, but there will be no 'firsthand accounts' from those who would now have to be over 100 years old.

It was just a joke.

The 1945 Milwaukee city directory lists a German Kino Radio Theater on 2459 W. Fond du Lac in Milwaukee. I'm wondering if this was a house just for radio production and not for films. If so, it wouldn't qualify to be added here.

Would like to see photos of the marquee.