Badger Theatre
326 E. Main Street,
Reedsburg,
WI
53959
326 E. Main Street,
Reedsburg,
WI
53959
1 person
favorited this theater
The Majestic Theatre opened in 1915. It was purchased in 1921 by Oscar Kelly. Three years later, Kelly had a new theatre constructed on Main Street, which he renamed the Badger Theatre. This 500-seat theater had a pipe organ, a 16 by 23 foot stage, and in addition to silent films, the Badger Theatre hosted plays and concerts. A small fire in 1927 at the theatre caused little damage due to the Badger Theatre’s fire-proof construction, which Kelly pointed out in the local paper after the fire.
During Oscar Kelly’s ownership, the Badger Theatre gained a lighted marquee, air-conditioning and was the first theatre in town to show sound films. After Kelly’s death in 1942, his wife and son took over the operation of the theatre. In 1948, new projection equipment was installed and the interior remodeled. During his election campaign in 1960, John F. Kennedy made a speech from the Badger Theatre’s stage.
In 1962, the Krueger family purchased the theatre, and seating was reduced to 400, and a new screen and curtain were installed. A decade later, the auditorium was completely remodeled. In September 1979, a Dolby sound system was added.
The Badger Theatre closed as a movie house in November 1998. It became the RAZ Gallery of Fine Art, where art from area artisans is displayed and sold. Furthermore, the Badger Theatre hosted occasional live theatrical productions and concerts. It became a bar named Burg in 2006 and in 2011 was the Good Times Bar.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The link is no longer valid. This former theater has now been turned into a bar called Burg.
In 2011, the building was housing the Good Times Bar.
I am doing some research on a theatre pipe organ that was supposedly installed in the Badger Theatre in Reedsburg, WI. in the 1920’s.
Bryan, who made the above post re: the Badger Theatre, mentioned that “This 500 seat theatre had a pipe organ,….” and I would like to contact him (Bryan) and ask him where he got this information. How would I get in touch with him? Any one else who has any information about this organ can get in touch with me at:
REEDSBURG – Elmer V. Krueger, age 92, of Reedsburg, died on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, in his home. He was born July 17, 1913, in Princeton, Wis., the son of Emil and Pauline (Radtke) Krueger. Elmer was a 1933 graduate of Princeton High School. He then farmed the family farm for 25 years until becoming involved in the theater business. He will be remembered for showing free outdoor movies for many years. Elmer operated movie theaters in Princeton, Muscoda, Viroqua, Edgerton, Plainfield and Reedsburg. He operated the Badger Theatre in Reedsburg from November 1960 until his retirement in 2000. Elmer was always willing to reach out and help others whenever possible. He will also be remembered as a Christian mentor and friend to many. He was also the author of his trilogy: “Timeless Treasures,” “Endless Echoes,” and “Eternal Embers”, and was a faithful member of Faith Lutheran Church in Reedsburg.
http://flannelgraphrecords.com/album/selected-messages-from-the-badger-theater-answering-machine-1993-1994
I remember Godzilla (1998) being the final film to play at the Badger, yet Krueger’s obituary seems to suggest that it closed in 2000. So which is true?
Closed in November 1998.