Lyric Theater

When the Lyric opened in October of 1907 it was owned by Mr. John T. Sackman and Mr. Herman Bock, movies were a sideline to the vaudeville shows. The success of the Lyric was the eventual cause of the closing of the first movie theatre in Cape, the Dreamland. The Lyric was built in a room that had been occupied by one of the most notorious saloons ever to infest Cap Girardeau. Admission at that time was ten cents. When the Dreamland closed in November the Lyric dropped the vaudeville and became exclusively a “movie house'.
Movies were obtained from General Film Co. of Chicago. By this time the movies had lengthened to three and sometimes four reels.
The Lyric was equipped with the latest and finest Edison camera at a cost to Bock and Sackman of $100.00. They had to pay film services #30.00 a week and programs changed each day.
When the Lyric first opened it seated 300 but a year later they added a small balcony and seating increased to 400.
By March of 1910 the new Grand Theatre was built and thus came the closing of the Lyric. For a short time the Lyric was reopened in December of 1910 by Eddie McDade presenting vaudeville and movies but with the opening of several other theatres (Princess, Colonial and the Royal) the Lyric was closed for good.