Highway 18 Outdoor Theater
W6423 Highway 18,
Jefferson,
WI
53549
W6423 Highway 18,
Jefferson,
WI
53549
2 people
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The Highway 18 Outdoor Theater opened in 1953, was later closed but was restored and reopened in 2000.
Contributed by
Scott Nosek
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
This is the opening ad from June of 1953.
Any comments or questions regarding any drive-in theater in Wisconsin, please check out my website at
www.drive-inthruwisconsin.com There you will find photos, original newspaper ads and a whole lot more. Or contact me at I will give you complete and accurate information about Wisconsin drive-in theaters, just ask. Thanks, Charles Bruss
October 25, 1968)
Sprague Theater Sold at Elkhorn
ELKHORN – Dan Kelliher, owner and operator of Sprague Theatre here for the past 46 years, has sold the business to James K. Anderson, Whitewater. Possession will be given Nov. 1. Anderson is a part owner of the Strand Theater in Whitewater, the Fort Theater in Fort Atkinson and the Highway 18 Outdoor Theater near Jefferson. He managed the Strand Theater for eight years.
A former cashier of the First Citizens State Bank of Whitewater, Anderson is now in the investment business. He will manage the theater here but does not plan to move to Elkhorn. He has a summer home at Lauderdale Lakes.
Kelliher purchased the former Princess Theater here in 1922 and has presented the Elkhorn movies for 46 of the 58 years they have been shown.
Mr. and Mrs. Kelliher were originally from Mt. Horeb.
The present Sprague Theater was completed in 1928. The first “talking picture” was shown in 1929. During various portions of his business career Kelliher also leased or owned theaters at Lake Geneva, East Troy, Burlington and Delavan.
Video Tour of the Highway 18 drive-in movie theater. Very informative!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=181IkoC7_Vw
It parked 500 cars and was owned by Walter Baier.In 1956.
Closed in 1997, renovated and re-opened in May of 2000.
Some photos
View link
View link
This theater has now gone digital.
http://tinyurl.com/4xlppjc
A lot more is involved than installing new equipment. To prevent dust intrusion, the projection booth had to be sealed and air-conditioned.
The google map/street view is WAY off. Is there any way to fix this?
The physical address is W6423 Highway 18, Jefferson WI. 53549. (US 18 & Wisconsin 89) This will map properly. website