Rhode Opera House
514 56th Street,
Kenosha,
WI
53140
514 56th Street,
Kenosha,
WI
53140
2 people
favorited this theater
Opened in 1927, the former Lake Theater, and later Gateway Theater is now home to the Lakeside Players, a community theater group.
Contributed by
Pete Christy
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 39 comments)
Been finding some interesting things. I found a book called “Kenosha on the Go” I believe is the name and it had a picture of the 6th Ave. (Main St.) entrance. The picture was taken in the early 30s and at that time it WAS being used for that purpose as on both sides of the door in the center you could see movie posters on the walls. Also, within the auditorium on the west side you can find a wall that seems to be hollow indicating it was added after the original construction and would indicate the entry to that part of the building. Still trying to track down more information as to when it was split off from the theater and sold.
Also, while going over some old articles. I was shown an article talking about the building of what was to be the Gateway Theatre and it made mention of plans to put in a rooftop garden, to my knowledge, that never came to pass. The company also at that time was called the “Kenosha New Orpheum Theater Company”.
I plan to make a trip to the library to dig through the old newspapers soon! See what else I can find!
As for pics of the fountain and the interior of the intact auditorium, the ONLY pictures I currently have access to is the pics from around the time of the grand opening.
Speaking of! Here is an article I found from Dec. 27, 1927. View link talking about the grand opening of the Gateway.
“… you can find a wall that seems to be hollow indicating it was added after the original construction and would indicate the entry to that part of the building. Still trying to track down more information …” No one seems to know what that was all about, but it never opened into the theatre although I’ve seen the poster photo. The Saxe Brothers chain may have been posting one-sheets there pending leasing or selling that portion of the property. That Rapp & Rapp-designed storefront is still there on Sixth Avenue and it may have been designed as the original entrance with the actual entrance added later, or as an auxiliary entrance and exit that was omitted at the last moment for economic reasons. A local story said that building codes prohibited a Sixth Avenue entrance, though that’s illogical as the KENOSHA, ORPHEUM and earler MAJESTIC all had Sixth Avenue entrances. There’s a storefront to the west of the Gateway also designed by Rapp & Rapp. A rooftop garden is still possible above the 56th Street entrance as there’s a door leading directly to it.
<img src=“http://thumb12.webshots.net/t/73/73/5/0/1/2981500010087069752qgYohO_th.jpg” alt=“1927 – Gateway Theatre”>This is the opening-week ad in the Kenosha Evening News:
URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2981500010087069752qgYohO]
[/url]
Peter Rhode was my great-great-grandfather. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has such affection for the Rhode Opera House. I only saw it once, on a cross country family vacation trip, but I’m really happy to see that the Rhode is still going strong!
(Friday, June 18, 1926) One of the largest business deals in the history of modern Kenosha was completed Friday with the signing of a long term lease whereby the Kenosha Orpheum Theatre company takes over the present site of the old Rhode Opera House and the vacant lot in the rear of it for the erection of the new $500,000 Gateway Theatre.
A 3/10 Barton was installed in the theatre in 1927
Press Release from the Lakeside Players regarding an event that happened Thursday, June 15, 2011.
Today at 2:20PM, Justin Frieman, President of the Lakeside Players, Inc., entered the Steigerwaldt Auditorium of the Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th Street, and noticed gallons of water pouring onto the stage from the east side second floor. The Kenosha Fire Department was called. The water and power to the building have been turned off to prevent further damage. Emergency repair crews have been contacted and will be working the evening of June 15th. The scheduled “Rhode Big Clean” for Saturday, June 18th has not yet been canceled, as we may be able to occupy parts of the building by Saturday. Please consult our website http://rhodeopera.org for updates on this event. The Pollard Art Gallery will remain open during regular hours.
Update to this press release is the “Big Clean” has been postponed until later this summer due to “ a result of severe water damage that occurred at the historic theater on June 15th afternoon”.
Recovery is looking hopeful but it will take time.
Sorry I never followed this up. The theater has recovered from the water damage. The only casualty was the original stage lighting panel from 1927 got flooded and had to be disconnected and any power routed through it had to be rerouted.
FYI. I’ve added a few pages of interior photos of the Rhode Opera House in the Photos section. Thank You to the Rhode Staff for access to your beautiful theatre.