Al Ringling Theatre
136 Fourth Avenue,
Baraboo,
WI
53913
136 Fourth Avenue,
Baraboo,
WI
53913
18 people
favorited this theater
The 830-seat Al Ringling Theatre was the grandest theater ever built in Baraboo, which had a few smaller theaters up to that point.
It was built by circus showman Al Ringling (of the Ringling Brothers) as a gift back to the town in which he grew up and loved. He hired Chicago architectural firm Rapp & Rapp, best known for their Chicago Theatre, to design his playhouse.
Built in French Renaissance style, the Al Ringling Theatre is as ornate as any European opera house, complete with gilded plasterwork, frescoes and mosaics and antique tapestries. The Ringling opened on November 17, 1915 to operatic performances, but soon became known for vaudeville and later motion pictures.
Amazingly, the theater has remained almost completely intact over the years, despite some 1970’s renovations made with the best intentions that were corrected in the 1990’s. The theater continues to mainly screen movies, but is also used for live shows, concerts and community gatherings.
Contributed by
Jerome Lighthart
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1981 Photo
1981 Photo
1984 Photo
These are 1986 interior photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3
This photo is from July 2008.
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November 2008 photo of the Ringling Theatre.
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2009 photo of the Ringling Theatre.
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(January 16, 1953) Two Baraboo Theaters Sold to New Milwaukee Company
The Al Ringling theater, “America’s Prettiest Playhouse” since 1915, has been sold with its sister theater, the Juliar, to a new Milwaukee corporation, Baraboo Theaters, Inc., by Henry E. Ringllng.
Purchase price for the theaters was announced at more than $150,000. The Al Ringling theater, when it was completed in 1915, cost $100,000.
The corporation which bought the theaters also operates theaters in Richland Center, Boscobel, Elroy, and Black River Falls. It is headed by Jacob Eskin, president of the Eskin Theater Management Co., Milwaukee.
The Al Ringling theater was built by Albert Ringling, an owner of the Ringling Brothers circus. It seats 834, and at the time it was built was one of the largest and finest theaters in a city of its size in the country.
The Juliar, a much smaller theater, was completed in 1938 by Henry E. Ringling, in memory of Mrs. Selome Juliar Ringling, mother of the Ringling brothers.
The Al Ringling theatre originally was built for legitimate theatre, or as an “opera house.” It was converted to a movie theater later. It is still used for area theatrical performances.
Famous actors who have visited the theater during the time it was an opera house include Lionel Barrymore and Charlotte Greenwood.
Henry E. Ringling, Wisconsin Republican national committeeman, was in Washington for the inauguration Thursday and could not be reached for comment.
Incredible detail here. Classic.
Just for accuracy’s sake, officially the theatre’s name has a period after the name ‘Al’.