Belle Theatre

The original Simplex projector that was used since its 1942 opening only operated for 3 years due to a fire incident inside the projection booth. On April 7, 1945, the Belle Theatre was gutted by a fire caused by a broken belt inside the projector causing a fire inside the projection booth. The fire occurred during a showing of a double feature: Bob Crosby in “The Singing Sheriff” and Joe E. Brown in “Casanova In Burlesque” along with an unnamed serial and an unnamed comedy, which was only shown for one day. Luckily enough, the audience, mostly children, had all escaped safely. The theater reopened the following day in the afternoon with Gerr Garson and Walter Pidgeon in “Mrs. Parkington” (along with a few unnamed short subjects) after a new projector was installed. The estimated loss is between $300 and $400.