The Robbins owned theater opened in an existing retail building in 1923 as Theatre Academie. It became the Echo Theatre in 1934 largely serving African American audiences. In 1940, it became an African American only cinema. In the early 1950s, it was open to all audiences until closing on November 13, 1952 likely at the end of a 30-year leasing period.
Joe Gilmore built his structure opening it for retail on April 7, 1882. It hosted some dances and live events, as well. His new Gilmore Building was launched in late April of 1906. J.H. Hungerford had taken on the lease of the recently-closed San Carlo Theatre land on February 20, 1920 re-opening it with William Farnum in “The Lone Star Ranger” and a two-reel Sunshine comedy. But Hungerford was dissatisfied with the San Carlo and bought the Gilmore building - likely the latter 1906 building - a month later. He opened the Family Theatre here on June 5, 1920 playing “The Rivers End”. The Family Theatre became the full-time movie theatre and the San Carlo Theatre switched back to live fare just months later.
Hungerford sold the Family in 1932 and the theatre had a grand reopening on April 23, 1932. C. William “Wally” Johnson and Paige with A.W. Person, operator of the Lyric in Crete, took possession of the venue in December of 1932 reseating it with upholstered chairs and new projectors. It reopened on Christmas Day with a naming contest. The winning name was the Friend Theatre which is the name it used as of January 5, 1933 shows with Joan Blondell in “3 on a Match.”
Johnson would take over sole possession of the Friend and closed it for major improvements in November of 1936. The theatre relaunched on January 3, 1937 as the Plaza Theatre with Shirley Temple in “Dimples” for its soft launch. The theatre would have a gala reopening upon finishing all of its improvements to formally welcome the Plaza moniker on February 5, 1937 with “Three Men on a Horse.” On May 2, 1940, the Plaza was destroyed by fire just hours after the conclusion of “Castle on the Hudson" which would be the venue’s final screening. Johnson would create a new space for the Vogue Theatre relaunching November 14, 1940.
Closed with the other Showbiz locations on March 20, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. While the others reopened in May of 2020, this location closed for the above transformation to a family fun center. Relaunched with the grand reopening listed above on December 18, 2020 with 13 screens and 14 bowling lanes.
The Majestic Theatre launched with the John Ford western “Marked Men” starring Harry Carey on May 5, 1920. On June 25, 1926 under new operators, it became the Ritz Theatre relaunching with “Flaming Waters” starring Mayme Kelso. Its days were numbered when the Palace opened with sound in March of 1930. The Ritz closed remaining silent with Strongheart in “The Return of Boston Blackie” on July 22, 1930.
The March 21, 1930 opening of the Palace Theatre marks the first talkies for Boise City launching with “Hot for Paris" starring Victor McLaglen. The theatre vanquished the Ritz Theatre which would close four months later.
Long’s Theatre (and Meat Locker, next door) open on May 31, 1947 with Randolph Scott in “Trail Street.” The theatre was still going into the mid-1970s.
The Boise Downtown Stadium 9 closed March 18, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened August 28, 2020 only to close again October 4, 2020. In January of 2021, Regal made the closure permanent.
The Ashland Street Cinemas closed following March 18, 2020 showings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It didn’t reopen with an announcement made by Coming Attractions Theatres on January 22, 2021 that the closure would be permanent.
Harry Musselman opened the Osceola Auditorium Theatre on June 19, 1915 to a crowd of 400. In 1931, Frank E. Klein purchased the Auditorium and changed its name to the Rivoli Theatre.
In 1937, Klein hired Omaha-based architect Leo J. Dworak who – after a major refresh – renamed it the Muse Theatre in April 22, 1937 launching with Robert Taylor in “Personal Property.” The new configuration of the venue removed the 100-seat balcony. Several operators later, Billie Zedicher purchased the theatre in 1956. He was the final operator running the Muse until closure in 1978.
In September of 1996, the former and dilapidated structure was razed. Its 200,000 bricks were purchased and used in a new home construction project. The Muse Theatre sign was preserved and was hanging on the Gathering Grounds Coffee House west wall in the 2020s.
Harold M. Schoonover launched the Mazda Theatre in the Cass Building on July 22, 1914 in Aurora. The opening film was “Her Mother’s Sins.” Just after World War I, the rival Victory Theatre was opened by C.M Grosvenor on the city’s east side. In March of 1924, Schoonover bought the Victory. He refreshed the theatre after closing it for two months. It re-emegred as the East Side Theatre on May 30, 1924. The 300-seat theatre then converted to sound later becoming the Pawnee Theatre.
As for the Mazda, it installed sound on February 1, 1929. At the theater’s 32d anniversary with Schoonover still in charge, Red Skelton wrote, “The first 32 years are the hardest. From now on, everything should almost manage itself.” Schoonover retired after 45 years and the theatre survived into the 1980s.
The Okeene Opera House opened on Main Street in 1907 with 250 seats and likely on a ten-year leasing agreement. Though mostly used for live events, traveling moving picture shows were interspersed in the opera house until a full time movie theater opened on May 15, 1913. It closed but the Majestic Theatre opened in 1915 in a converted retail location. With the opera house struggling, the Majestic Theatre then moved to the Opera House in 1917. The venue was renamed as the Majestic Theatre.
Roetzel sold the theatre in 1923 to W.S. Allen and A. C. Martz, editor of the Okeene Record. Martz renamed the venue as the Rialto Theatre on May 25, 1923 showing Richard Talmadge in “Taking Chances” supported by a comedy short starring Vera Reynolds, “Designing Husbands.” Under new operators, the Rialto wired for sound to remain viable. In 1936, new operators took on the location likely on a new 20-year lease and changed the name to the Roberta Theatre.
Orville Von Gulker took over the operation in 1938 but he became known for something far different in 1939 when he created the first ever Rattlesnake Roundup. Von Gulker’s snake roundup is a tradition that carried on into the 2020s. He also became head of the new Allied Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, a trade association.
In 1948, the Von Gulkers changed the name of the theatre to the Vee-Gee Theatre as they were often referred to by friends as the Vee-Gees. Regular movie screenings ended in September of 1956 at end of lease with the theatre ending up in the 1957 delinquent tax roster - never a good sign. However, the venue was used for special events and agricultural trade film screenings until at least 1962.
The Cardinal Drive-In launched with Susan Hayward and Robert Mitchum in “The Lusty Men” on July 3, 1953. It appears to have closed at the end of a ten-year lease with a double feature of “Night Creatures” and “The Bashful Elephant” on September 1, 1962.
The Ideal Theatre was listing as of January 1, 1915 - very likely its opening date - as the first dedicated movie theatre in town. However, Tedens Opera House was where movies first played in the city and continued doing so into the 1920s. The Ideal was equipped with a poorly functioning sound system in 1929 to show talkies. It appears to close on January 15, 1930 likely at the end of a 15-year leasing period.
Leon R. Jarusz of Chicago took on the Ideal equipping it with DeForest Phonofilm to play the talkie, “Caught Short” at the theatre’s rebirth as the Lemont Theatre on August 16, 1930. The theatre closed during 1937. Operators Arthur and Helen Lindenau took on the venue and relaunched it as the Arthur Theatre on January 1, 1938 on a 15-year lease with “Four Daughters” supported by a Disney cartoon and newsreel. They made improvements in 1948/9 to keep the theatre competitive. But three years later, Helen Lindenau closed the venue on December 12, 1952 as television was hurting business and at end of lease.
The Lemont Chamber of Commerce took on the venue because it felt that reopening the theatre would have a halo effect on the downtown business. The Chamber relaunched the Arthur with new hope beginning January 8, 1954 with Tony Curtis in “Houdini.” But the Chamber found what Lindenau had already discovered - residents weren’t going to the movies like they used to. The Arthur Theatre closed on June 6, 1954 with the Martin & Lewis comedy, “Money From Home.” The Chamber of Commerce said the Arthur would return in the Fall but - when it didn’t - it was taken over by the local newspaper, The Lemonter.
Leon R, Jarusz of Chicago took on the Ideal Theatre equipping it wit DeForest Phonofilm to play the talkie, “Caught Short” at the theatre’s rebirth as the Lemont Theatre on August 16, 1930.
Tthe Duke Theatre launched May 2, 1947 with “13th Hour” and “Wife Wanted.”
The Robbins owned theater opened in an existing retail building in 1923 as Theatre Academie. It became the Echo Theatre in 1934 largely serving African American audiences. In 1940, it became an African American only cinema. In the early 1950s, it was open to all audiences until closing on November 13, 1952 likely at the end of a 30-year leasing period.
Joe Gilmore built his structure opening it for retail on April 7, 1882. It hosted some dances and live events, as well. His new Gilmore Building was launched in late April of 1906. J.H. Hungerford had taken on the lease of the recently-closed San Carlo Theatre land on February 20, 1920 re-opening it with William Farnum in “The Lone Star Ranger” and a two-reel Sunshine comedy. But Hungerford was dissatisfied with the San Carlo and bought the Gilmore building - likely the latter 1906 building - a month later. He opened the Family Theatre here on June 5, 1920 playing “The Rivers End”. The Family Theatre became the full-time movie theatre and the San Carlo Theatre switched back to live fare just months later.
Hungerford sold the Family in 1932 and the theatre had a grand reopening on April 23, 1932. C. William “Wally” Johnson and Paige with A.W. Person, operator of the Lyric in Crete, took possession of the venue in December of 1932 reseating it with upholstered chairs and new projectors. It reopened on Christmas Day with a naming contest. The winning name was the Friend Theatre which is the name it used as of January 5, 1933 shows with Joan Blondell in “3 on a Match.”
Johnson would take over sole possession of the Friend and closed it for major improvements in November of 1936. The theatre relaunched on January 3, 1937 as the Plaza Theatre with Shirley Temple in “Dimples” for its soft launch. The theatre would have a gala reopening upon finishing all of its improvements to formally welcome the Plaza moniker on February 5, 1937 with “Three Men on a Horse.” On May 2, 1940, the Plaza was destroyed by fire just hours after the conclusion of “Castle on the Hudson" which would be the venue’s final screening. Johnson would create a new space for the Vogue Theatre relaunching November 14, 1940.
Closed with the other Showbiz locations on March 20, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. While the others reopened in May of 2020, this location closed for the above transformation to a family fun center. Relaunched with the grand reopening listed above on December 18, 2020 with 13 screens and 14 bowling lanes.
Sadly, it just closed.
The Majestic Theatre launched with the John Ford western “Marked Men” starring Harry Carey on May 5, 1920. On June 25, 1926 under new operators, it became the Ritz Theatre relaunching with “Flaming Waters” starring Mayme Kelso. Its days were numbered when the Palace opened with sound in March of 1930. The Ritz closed remaining silent with Strongheart in “The Return of Boston Blackie” on July 22, 1930.
On November 17, 2020, Flix temporarily re-shuttered all of its locations awaiting the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The March 21, 1930 opening of the Palace Theatre marks the first talkies for Boise City launching with “Hot for Paris" starring Victor McLaglen. The theatre vanquished the Ritz Theatre which would close four months later.
The Majestic Theatre changed names on June 25, 1926 to the Ritz Theatre under new operators opening with “Flaming Waters” starring Mayme Kelso.
Long’s Theatre (and Meat Locker, next door) open on May 31, 1947 with Randolph Scott in “Trail Street.” The theatre was still going into the mid-1970s.
The Boise Downtown Stadium 9 closed March 18, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened August 28, 2020 only to close again October 4, 2020. In January of 2021, Regal made the closure permanent.
Closed permanently on January 18, 2021 with Backyard Wilderness", “The Living Sea”: “Born to Be Wild” and “Great White Shark.”
The Ashland Street Cinemas closed following March 18, 2020 showings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It didn’t reopen with an announcement made by Coming Attractions Theatres on January 22, 2021 that the closure would be permanent.
Harry Musselman opened the Osceola Auditorium Theatre on June 19, 1915 to a crowd of 400. In 1931, Frank E. Klein purchased the Auditorium and changed its name to the Rivoli Theatre.
In 1937, Klein hired Omaha-based architect Leo J. Dworak who – after a major refresh – renamed it the Muse Theatre in April 22, 1937 launching with Robert Taylor in “Personal Property.” The new configuration of the venue removed the 100-seat balcony. Several operators later, Billie Zedicher purchased the theatre in 1956. He was the final operator running the Muse until closure in 1978.
In September of 1996, the former and dilapidated structure was razed. Its 200,000 bricks were purchased and used in a new home construction project. The Muse Theatre sign was preserved and was hanging on the Gathering Grounds Coffee House west wall in the 2020s.
Reopened as a Studio Movie Grill on November 11, 2011. Closed in 2021.
Closed in January of 2021
Closed in January of 2021
Reopened briefly after COVID-19 and was closed permanently in January of 2021
Closed in January 2021
Closed January 2021.
Harold M. Schoonover launched the Mazda Theatre in the Cass Building on July 22, 1914 in Aurora. The opening film was “Her Mother’s Sins.” Just after World War I, the rival Victory Theatre was opened by C.M Grosvenor on the city’s east side. In March of 1924, Schoonover bought the Victory. He refreshed the theatre after closing it for two months. It re-emegred as the East Side Theatre on May 30, 1924. The 300-seat theatre then converted to sound later becoming the Pawnee Theatre.
As for the Mazda, it installed sound on February 1, 1929. At the theater’s 32d anniversary with Schoonover still in charge, Red Skelton wrote, “The first 32 years are the hardest. From now on, everything should almost manage itself.” Schoonover retired after 45 years and the theatre survived into the 1980s.
The Okeene Opera House opened on Main Street in 1907 with 250 seats and likely on a ten-year leasing agreement. Though mostly used for live events, traveling moving picture shows were interspersed in the opera house until a full time movie theater opened on May 15, 1913. It closed but the Majestic Theatre opened in 1915 in a converted retail location. With the opera house struggling, the Majestic Theatre then moved to the Opera House in 1917. The venue was renamed as the Majestic Theatre.
Roetzel sold the theatre in 1923 to W.S. Allen and A. C. Martz, editor of the Okeene Record. Martz renamed the venue as the Rialto Theatre on May 25, 1923 showing Richard Talmadge in “Taking Chances” supported by a comedy short starring Vera Reynolds, “Designing Husbands.” Under new operators, the Rialto wired for sound to remain viable. In 1936, new operators took on the location likely on a new 20-year lease and changed the name to the Roberta Theatre.
Orville Von Gulker took over the operation in 1938 but he became known for something far different in 1939 when he created the first ever Rattlesnake Roundup. Von Gulker’s snake roundup is a tradition that carried on into the 2020s. He also became head of the new Allied Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, a trade association.
In 1948, the Von Gulkers changed the name of the theatre to the Vee-Gee Theatre as they were often referred to by friends as the Vee-Gees. Regular movie screenings ended in September of 1956 at end of lease with the theatre ending up in the 1957 delinquent tax roster - never a good sign. However, the venue was used for special events and agricultural trade film screenings until at least 1962.
The Cardinal Drive-In launched with Susan Hayward and Robert Mitchum in “The Lusty Men” on July 3, 1953. It appears to have closed at the end of a ten-year lease with a double feature of “Night Creatures” and “The Bashful Elephant” on September 1, 1962.
The Ideal Theatre was listing as of January 1, 1915 - very likely its opening date - as the first dedicated movie theatre in town. However, Tedens Opera House was where movies first played in the city and continued doing so into the 1920s. The Ideal was equipped with a poorly functioning sound system in 1929 to show talkies. It appears to close on January 15, 1930 likely at the end of a 15-year leasing period.
Leon R. Jarusz of Chicago took on the Ideal equipping it with DeForest Phonofilm to play the talkie, “Caught Short” at the theatre’s rebirth as the Lemont Theatre on August 16, 1930. The theatre closed during 1937. Operators Arthur and Helen Lindenau took on the venue and relaunched it as the Arthur Theatre on January 1, 1938 on a 15-year lease with “Four Daughters” supported by a Disney cartoon and newsreel. They made improvements in 1948/9 to keep the theatre competitive. But three years later, Helen Lindenau closed the venue on December 12, 1952 as television was hurting business and at end of lease.
The Lemont Chamber of Commerce took on the venue because it felt that reopening the theatre would have a halo effect on the downtown business. The Chamber relaunched the Arthur with new hope beginning January 8, 1954 with Tony Curtis in “Houdini.” But the Chamber found what Lindenau had already discovered - residents weren’t going to the movies like they used to. The Arthur Theatre closed on June 6, 1954 with the Martin & Lewis comedy, “Money From Home.” The Chamber of Commerce said the Arthur would return in the Fall but - when it didn’t - it was taken over by the local newspaper, The Lemonter.
Leon R, Jarusz of Chicago took on the Ideal Theatre equipping it wit DeForest Phonofilm to play the talkie, “Caught Short” at the theatre’s rebirth as the Lemont Theatre on August 16, 1930.