Crystal Theatre
215 East Second Avenue,
Flandreau,
SD
57028
215 East Second Avenue,
Flandreau,
SD
57028
No one has favorited this theater yet
This old small town theatre seems to have withstood the test of time and is still in operation. From the royal blue marquee to the hand painted rose vines with bidding roses running in the lobby rotunda with its pink incadescent neon lighting. Everything in the theatre is as if time stood still.
The royal blue vertical with its white neon lettering spelling out Crystal set against the red brick back round of the building and the flashing lights around the vertical gives you the feel that you are entering into the past.
From the center of the hand painting in the ceiling rotunda hangs a beautiful glass chandelier that puts it all in place. The original dark wood doors that lead to the auditorium and the matching wood railings leading to the small balcony are in pristine condition.
This has to be one of the my favorite small town theatres that I have had the pleasure of entering. The Cystal is now a venue for both live performances and films.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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The Crystal Theater was built in 1913 for films and vaudeville. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Crystal Theatre (added 2000 – Building – #00001214)
215 E. Second Ave., Flandreau
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architectural Style: Early Commercial
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Owner: Local Gov’t
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
Photos and some background on this theater are here.
Fire in 1921:
The next bout with fire in the community was not nearly as costly. However, it claimed a sizable amount of merchandise Feb. 16, 1913.
About $8,000 in merchandise and fixtures burned at Rolfe’s Drug store after flames shot out of a furnace in the rear of the store about 10 a.m. The loss was not total.
A 2:30 a.m. discovery of smoke brought firemen to the R. L. Brown Hardware Store March 1, 1916. However, before the fire fighters could quell the blaze $12,000 in stock and the building were gone. Tile structure was one of the early ones in Flandreau and was a landmark. The Bidne-Brown Building in the main business district stands on the site now.
Another early morning blaze engulfed tile Bland Meat Market May 22, 1921. Defective wiring was listed as the probable cause for $9,000 in damage beginning about 3:30 a.m.
The interior furnishings and equipment at the Crystal Theatre received damage to the tune of $6,000 in Nov. No cause was ever established for the fire, which was noticed about 6 O'clock in the evening but it was believed to have been the result of a furnace.
1985 photo of the Crystal Theatre.
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