Comments about Burley Theatre in Burley, ID

Joe Vogel on December 21, 2011 at 5:08 pm

Here is the biography of Stanley J. Osika from volume 4 of “History of Idaho: Gem of the Mountains” by James H. Hawley, which was published in 1920:

“Stanley J. Osika is the proprietor and manager of the Burley Theatre and is numbered among the most alert and energetic young business men of the town of Burley. The width of the continent separates him from his birthplace, for he is a native son of Brooklyn, New York. He was born February 8, 1886, his parents, Peter and Plagnar Osika. The first twelve years of his life were spent in his native city and he then accompanied his parents on their removal westward, their destination being Park City, Utah. He there attended school and also continued his studies in Salt Lake. He took up the study of music under Antone Peterson, specializing in harmony and the trombone, and he has figured prominently in musical circles at Salt Air resorts and in the Liberty and American theatres organized and maintained at various places throughout the country. In October, 1914, he came to Burley, Idaho, where he established a moving picture house where the Blue Bird is now located. In December, 1917, he removed to the Burley Theatre, securing larger and more commodious and modern quarters. He today has one of the finest moving picture houses of Idaho and maintains a six-piece orchestra. He presents the finest attractions of the film world and has a liberal patronage, the business having long since reached profitable proportions.”

It’s not clear if Osika owned the theater building itself or only leased it, but as the book refers to him as the proprietor of the theater he must have owned the business. Stanley J. Osika was listed as a resident of Cassia County, Idaho, in the 1920 U.S. census, but the 1930 census lists him as a resident of Erie, New York.

RonP on November 14, 2010 at 4:33 pm

Here is a partial history of Harris-Voeller Theatres:
The Burley Theatre could be considered their flagship theater since I.H. Harris lived in Burley and had his offices above the Orpheum (Harris) Theatre, about a block away.
During their heyday from the mid-â€™30s thru the early-â€˜60s they were Idahoâ€™s largest independent chain. They even had more locations in Idaho than Fox Intermountain, albeit in smaller cities.
In September of 1980 Irvin Harris, then 55 years of age and the son of I.H. Harris, was interviewed for the Idaho State Historical Society oral history program.
Mr. Harris said that his father entered the movie business in Evanston, Wyoming in 1921 by buying a theater from Art Bowen and becoming his partner. In 1928 they partnered with C.C. Voeller, who was superintendent of schools in Evanston, and began to buy small-town venues. Mr. Bowen later exited the partnership to go to California and sold the Burley Theatre to Harris. In the early â€˜40s Mr. Bowen returned to the firm to remodel and manage the Carson City, Nevada theater. Irvin Harris noted that the Burley Theatre was built around 1916.
I.H. Harris, was active in community, state, and theater owners affairs. In 1944 Harris, was Idaho chairman of the National Motion Picture Committee on the March of Dimes, which collected $10,872 ($134,813 in 2010 dollars) in Idaho theaters. The Twin Falls Times-News said he was invited to the White House but because of transportation problems he was unable to shake hands with FDR. In 1960 he became president of the Idaho State Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Harris passed away in 1963. Mr. Voeller, a former Buhl, Idaho mayor, passed away in 1952.
Here are the chainâ€™s theaters taken from the International Motion Picture Almanac:
Buhl, ID- Cozy; Ramona; Moon-Glo Drive In
Burley, ID- Burley; Orpheum (Harris); Alfresco Drive-In
Emmett, ID- Ideal (Frontier); Liberty
Jerome, ID- Voris (Rialto & later Frontier); Rio Rey Drive-In
Montpelier, ID- Rich (Centre)
Rupert, ID- Wilson
Carson City, NV- Carson (remodeled and briefly owned in early â€˜40s)
Lovelock, NV- Lovelock
Nyssa, OR- Nyssa
Ontario, OR- Pay-Ont Drive-In
Evanston, WY- Strand
Logan, UT- Cache Drive-In

lostmemory on April 18, 2009 at 3:58 pm

Here is the Burley in 1987.

lostmemory on April 18, 2009 at 12:42 pm

The year given for this photo is 1981.

LFOP on October 30, 2008 at 9:13 am

Here’s a 2008 view of the BURLEY: http://www.boxsetgallery.com/stein/index.html

lostmemory on September 20, 2008 at 8:38 pm

Not Century Theatres. Century Cinema

Marktech on October 14, 2007 at 2:23 pm

The Burley Theater is still operated by the Harris family.

Chuck1231 on March 23, 2006 at 7:02 pm

The Burley Theatre seated 792 originally and was operated by Harris-Voeller Theatres until 1985.

Chuck1231 on March 6, 2004 at 12:41 am

The address for the Burley Theatre, is 135 West Main Street, Burley, Id.

Burley Theatre

135 W. Main Street, Burley, ID

135 W. Main Street,
Burley, ID