Ramona Theatre
113 Broadway Avenue South,
Buhl,
ID
83316
113 Broadway Avenue South,
Buhl,
ID
83316
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Local history resources say that the Ramona Theatre, with its 11-foot dome, was remodeled into a movie theatre in 1927. Harris-Voeller Theatres, which was Idaho’s largest exhibitor during the 1940’s and 1950’s with a peak of 16 locations, operated it for many years. Harris-Voeller also operated the local 200-car Moon Glo Drive-In.
A third-generation showman from the Harris family, Bob Harris, continues the tradition today as the operator of two theatres in Burley.
The Spanish-style Ramona Theatre, which is now operating as a Mexican restaurant, was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, with Burton Morse listed as the architect.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1976
Ramona Theater ** (added 1976 – Building – #76000682)
113 Broadway, Buhl
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Morse,Burton
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ywkqp9
This is an August 2008 photo.
An article from the Twin Falls Daily News on September 2, 1927 said that Harris-Voeller Theatres had purchased the Wade building, Which adjoined the Fox Theatre, for the purpose of converting it into a modern $65,000, 800-seat playhouse. The building occupied by the Fox would be converted to a store once the new theater was completed. The new theater would be extended 30-feet to give it one of the best stages in that part of the state. The front of the building would have a deep entrance similar to theaters in the larger cities. There was no explanation of the Fox name or if there was any relationship between theater magnate William Fox and Harris-Voeller. I found it strange that Fox would have a theater in this small farm Community in 1927.
A Times-News article on May 20, 1928 said the 700-seat (the seating seems to have been changed from the earlier story) Spanish-style Harris-Voeller playhouse was nearing completion and would be opened in June. The name ‘Ramona’ was selected from a contest that received 150 entries.
Before he partnered with I.H. Harris, C.C. Voeller was superintendent of schools in Evanston, Wyoming, where he probably gained his knowledge of building construction. He then came to Buhl to make a permanent home and later became mayor. Mr. Voeller passed away in 1952.
Irvin Harris, son of the other Harris-Voeller founder, I.G. Harris, remembers in the Idaho State Historical Society oral history program that the Ramona was formerly a grocery store. Mr. Harris also said that cutting the floor joists; lowering it and placing it on blocks gave the auditorium its desired slant. (Of course this wouldn’t stand up to the building codes of today and even Idaho has been known to have earthquakes, but then again this was 1928.)
ronp: I’m wondering if the newspaper you cite was perfectly legible. Is it possible that it actually said Rex, rather than Fox? (Scans of old newspapers are often a bit messy, assuming your source was a scan.) There was definitely once a Rex Theatre in Buhl. It was mentioned in the October 25, 1913, issue of The Moving Picture World. Even if it did say Fox, the Fox might have been the Rex, renamed. It would have been a cheap change for the signage.
Either way, I doubt that this theater had any connection to William Fox. I don’t think the Fox Intermountain chain, which included Idaho in its territory, was even founded until several years after the Buhl house was closed.
Here is another view of the Ramona Theatre building, which also shows the building next door, location of the former Fox (or Rex, or both) Theatre.
The Rex theatre was across the street in a 1918 photo from the Ramona .In 1927 ads in the Buhl Herald were running shows and times for both the Fox and Cozy theaters .