Oto Theater

1620 1st Avenue,
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Commonwealth Theaters Corp., Gibraltar Enterprises Inc., Midwest Theatres

Functions: Fraternal Hall

Nearby Theaters

Oto Theater

Originally built in 1926 as a ballroom. It was converted into the Oto Theater, opening on November 26, 1936 with Doris Nolan in “The Man I Marry”. It was closed by Commonwealth Theatres in 1962. It had last featured Spanish language movies.

Contributed by Billy Smith / Billy Holcomb / Don Lewis

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 7, 2010 at 3:50 pm

The Biggers Drive-in in Scottsbuff was owned by Floyd Bigger.Wonder if he owned the Otoe Theatre?

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on December 23, 2010 at 4:52 pm

From 2010 a photo of the Otoe Theater building in Scottsbluff.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on November 5, 2014 at 12:26 am

I found a listing or the Otoe Theatre in 1939 with 300 seats. It was listed as closed in 1957. The building now houses a Knights of Columbus Hall.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 5, 2016 at 10:05 pm

The correct spelling of this theater’s name is Oto. It was named for the Native American tribe who once inhabited the region.

According to this article about the area’s theater history from the January 3, 2016, issue of the Scottsbluff Star-Herald, the building was erected in 1926 as a ballroom called Danceland, and was later converted into a theater.

An article in the January 14, 1962, issue of The Lincoln Star reported that the Midwest Amusement Company had recently sold the Midwest, Bluffs, and Oto Theatres in Scotsbluff to the Commonwealth Amusement Company of Kansas City. The Grove Theatre in nearby Gering was also sold.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on December 1, 2018 at 6:15 am

According to the article Joe references above the address here for the Oto Theatre is incorrect. The article says it was at 1620 First Ave and is now an Elks Lodge. The building at 1620 does look like a former theatre!

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on September 4, 2021 at 11:45 am

The Oto Theatre launched for Midwest Amusement Circuit on November 26, 1936 with Doris Nolan in “The Man I Marry.” Commonwealth closed the venue in 1962.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 3, 2023 at 4:28 pm

Grand opening ad posted.

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