Liberty Theater
121 S. Commercial Avenue,
Emmett,
ID
83617
121 S. Commercial Avenue,
Emmett,
ID
83617
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The January 5, 1918, issue of The Moving Picture World reported that the Liberty Theatre was then under construction at Emmett, Idaho.
The address of 121 S. Commercial will map right to the former theatre building.
The address for this theatre is 121 S. Commercial. It is now the Delta Fitness Center. It is around the corner from the Frontier Cinema (Ideal). From the looks of the building it did have a small stage house.
Both of Emmett’s theaters, the Ideal and the Liberty, were in operation by 1920. Volume 4 of “History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains” by James H. Hawley, which was published that year, said that the Ideal Theatre was owned by Claude D. Bucknam, who also owned a half interest in the Liberty Theatre.
As I remember, the liberty stopped showing films back in the 50’s. Back then, it still had the large upright sign that spelled out LIBERTY and later it become a skating rink.
I was just there a few weeks ago and the building is now used as a gym. The interior is still totally open, as it must have been when it was a theatre. A number of structures used by the Gym have been built inside the shell.
The building has nothing that looks like it had a stage or fly loft.
I have pictures of the building, which I will post when this sites picture feature is working.