The AMC Studio 30 was closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on August 20, 2020 along with a number of locations offering throw-back 15 cents ticket prices as AMC tried to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. But with revenues reportedly off more than 90% year-to-year, AMC made the closure permanent after shows of November 8, 2020. It was one of many locations closed permanently by the circuit in a second wave of closures it announced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AMC Hamilton closed along with the rest of the circuit on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre was reopened on September 10, 2020. However, it was one of many theatres the circuit permanently closed on November 8, 2020 - a second major wave of closures it announced late in 2020 due to the pandemic. Although rent was a factor undoubtedly, AMC said the Hamilton 24’s closure was a result of the ongoing pandemic reporting revenue at theatre down in excess of 90% year over year.
AMC Oakview Plaza 24 was located as an outparcel building near Oak View Mall. The theatre reopened August 27, 2020 after being closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was one of many theatres the circuit closed permanently on November 8, 2020 - a second major wave of closures it announced late in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Cache Valley Mall opened July 28, 1976. Not far behind was the Grand Opening of the Cache Valley Mall Triplex Theatres likely on a 30-year lease. The Triplex launched August 6, 1976 after a ribbon cutting with the films, “Lifeguard,” “Bingo Long and the Traveling All-Stars, and “Swashbuckler.” Under new opeators, it would become the Cache Valley 3 Theatres operating just past its 30-year leasing cycle.
H.C. Heninger of the Cache Drive-In Theatre launched the Redwood Family Theatre after a $100,000 remodeling of the former Steed’s Dairy Bar building on March 3, 1976. Theatre Operators Inc. changed the name to the Redwood Theatre arranging screenings of R-rated features at discount prices for the nearby college crowd. It likely ceased operations in 1982. It later became the Reel Time and Logan Art House & Cinema.
The Roxy Theatre opened October 23, 1935 with Alice Faye and George Raft in “Every Night at Eight” supported by selected shorts. After an ownership change a new 20-year lease, the theatre became the Utah Theatre on January 14, 1956 with Victor Mature in “The Last Frontier.”
Consolidated Theatres Circuit and the Thatcher Brothers opened the New-build Lyric Theatre replacing a previous Lyric Theatre. It opened September 22, 1913 with Lottie Pickford in “The House of Bondage” supported by four shorts and live music.
It might be noted that the Skydome had little in common with Springfield’s Air-Dome (1906-1908) and the Airdome (1909-1914) on East Walnut. Both were open live theaters which never were used for any cinematic purposes. But for the curious about those locations, here is some information.
Air-Dome had opened as a summer location for the Diemer Theatre four blocks away and was located in the former Central Park showgrounds. B.J. Diemer’s opening play was “For Love and Honor” on June 17, 1906. The open air theater ran three summer seasons with live plays ending in September of 1908.
Airdome on East Walnut was opened by the Bell, Olendorf & Ballard Amusement Circuit out of Kansas that purportedly programmed as many as 73 such airdomes and tent shows in the central states. Airdome launched with live shows on May 17, 1909 after a two-day weather delay with “The Great White Way.” Across the street was Fink’s Theater Pharmacy which served as the de facto concession stand with full soda fountain and candy options for patrons. Airdome ran six seasons through September 13, 1914 deciding not to reopen for Summer of 1915. Both Skydome and Airdome were demolished in 1915.
Though the Baldwin Theatre was known for live events, in 1898 the theatre began showing sporadic exhibitions of continuous motion pictures using two projectors to avoid breaks. And though the Baldwin wasn’t a regular movie theater, regular motion pictures were found within the larger, multi-purpose Baldwin Theatre Building for two months in 1907.
From May to June of 1907, the Nickelodeon took over a retail spot to show full-time movies in the “Store Show” era of film exhibition. The Nickelodeon opened May 3, 1907 with the Lubin film, “The Unwritten Law: A Thrilling Drama Based on the Thaw-White Case.” It closed with the Pathé Frères film, “Life and Passion of Christ” with the 44-minute film broken into three parts that required three separate nickel attendances over three days. The 15-minute screenings also saved on eye strain.
Meanwhile, the Baldwin remained true to is mission of providing live performances. However, an appearance by journalist Opie Read on January 5, 1909 ended the run of the venue which was completely destroyed by fire the next day. The Landers Theatre was the replacement for the Baldwin.
Though the Baldwin Theatre was known for live events, in 1898 the theatre began showing sporadic exhibitions of continuous motion pictures using two projectors to avoid breaks. From May to June of 1907 the Nickelodeon took over a retail spot within the Baldwin complex to show full-time movies. It opened May 3, 1907 with the Lubin film, “The Unwritten Law: A Thrilling Drama Based on the Thaw-White Case.”
Meanwhile, the Baldwin opted to go with live performances. But an appearance by journalist Opie Read on January 5, 1909 ended the run of the Baldwin which was completely destroyed by fire the next day. The Landers Theatre was the replacement for the Baldwin.
Captain Peabody brought his show business craft dating back to the “museums” of 1870s Kansas City to Springfield shepherding motion picture presentation at the Majestic, the Gem, and here at the Mecca. Combining motion pictures, tableau vivant/poses plastiques, illusion, and vaudeville, the Mecca launched as a family resort theatre experience on September 5, 1908.
Peabody would also program the Gem Theatre at its opening a year later. Professor Steora was installed as the full time magician and he along with motion pictures carried the Mecca only until 1910 when Professor Steora and the Mecca appear to have vanished for the last time. It was replaced by a meat market in 1911.
Ge orge and Anna Nagle moved to Shawano in 1914 and built the Crescent Theatre that year opening in 1915. George died prior to opening. Anna ran the theatre 47 years passing away at age 91 while working in the office of the Crescent. The Crescent continued to 1988 when Cinema I and II launched on East Green Bay. The theater’s second life was as the Crescent Pitcher Show from 1996 to 2013. It was being renovated to became a microbrewery potentially reopening in the early 2020s. The Nagle name is still at the top of the building.
If the trade press is correct, this opened as the Arcade Theatre in the early 1900s and was purchased by the operator of the Palace changing name to the Palace and going out of business without converting to sound. Independent Theaters, Inc., spent $15,000 refreshing the venue and wiring it for sound at a cost of $15,000 rebranding it as the Shawano Theatre in 1931.
W.W. Smith launched the Delmar Garden on July 24, 1911 which had an indoor and an outdoor theater. Opening day featured Schepp’s Famous Performing Ponies, Dogs and Monkeys along with motion pictures. The theatre appears to close during the summer of 1913.
The 300-seat Happy Hour Theatre opened with motion pictures on April 11, 1912 by the aforementioned Robert Franklin Barrett with the films, “The Fugitive,” “A Life for Sale” and “Symphony in Black.” The Unhappy Hour occurred on October 15, 1916 when the theatre closed with a triple feature of Lon Chaney in “The Desert Bat,” the Alva Brothers' “Mexican Insurrection” and Elsie Alberts in “Pie.”
The Ritz Theatre launched with a preview show on February 9, 1927 with Monte Blue in “Other Women’s Husbands” supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The actual Grand Opening was on February 13, 1927 with “Mile a Minute Morgan” starring Matty Mattison supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The Ritz was renamed as the Royal Theater on August 21, 1927 with the exploitation films, “Tell Me Why” and “The Naked Truth.” The Royal was a quick casualty not converting to sound.
The Park-In Theater launched August 31, 1947 in the brand new Plaza Shopping Center on Gladstone. It’s opening film was “The Yearling.” The neighborhood theater was next to Park-In Furniture as meterless parking by the door was aggressively marketed as a chief advantage by the shopping center. But almost immediately, people were confusing the Park-In bookings with the popular Drive- In Theater’s elsewhere in town. Nearly one year later, the theater was rebranded as the Tower Theatre on August 22, 1948 and would celebrate its first anniversary under that name eight days later. The theatre closed at the end of its second 25-year lease in 1997.
The Electric Theatre launched October 8, 1916 with Theda Bara in “Her Double Life.” Ten years later, the Electric Theatre received a major refresh including a mighty $25,000 Wurlitzer Orchestral Organ. Sydney B. Dawson was the organist at the opening. On February 9, 1930, the Electric became the Publix Electric Theatre when the circuit took on the location.
On September 24, 1930, the theatre became the Paramount Theatre with a dedication show screening of “The Santa Fe Trail” starring Richard Arlen. In 1933, Fox purchased the Paramount when Paramount Publix went into bankruptcy reorganization. It reverted reverted to the Electric Theatre with a November 30, 1933 showing of “Man’s Town.” The Electric became the Fox Theatre with a major streamlined moderne facelift and a World Premiere showing of “Killer McCoy” on December 4, 1947. Just five days later, the Fox was gutted by fire leaving its front and four walls intact.
The Fox moved its screenings to the inactive Jefferson Theatre while recreating the Fox. the Fox reopened on June 23, 1949 having a 35 year run. The architects for the new look Fox were Kent Cole and Sam Bihr, Jr. The Fox Theatre closed on December 2, 1984 with Clint Eastwood in “Tightrope.”
Fox took over the Jefferson Theatre renaming it as the Fox Plaza Theatre on September 14, 1930 with the film “Dancing Sweeties.” Fox retired the Plaza during World War III but decided to rehab the theatre after the Fox Theatre fire of December 9, 1947. The Fox bookings were moved here as of January 14, 1948 when the theatre was renamed the Fox Jewell Theatre named after Harry S. Jewell opening with the films “Good News” and “Blondie’s Sweethearts.” Movies ended on February 3, 1954 at the Jewell Theatre with a double feature of “Gun Fury” in 3-D and “China Venture” in 2-D.
The Jewell then became home to the locally-produced but nationally-fed ABC radio network series, “Ozark Jubilee” that ran from August 7, 1954 to September 23, 1960. When the series ended, the Jewell closed. Following a demolition sale, the Jewell was demolished almost 50 years after it was built in February of 1961.
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Dr. Diemer’s Theatre launched March 13, 1905 with the live play, “The Little Torrent.” The theatre operator had carved out a space in the Mercantile Building. There was a direct entrance to the theatre from the nearby bridge. Pearl White worked in the box office before becoming a player for the Diemer Theater Company. She went to Hollywood and became a popular serial actress including “The Perils of Pauline” and “The Exploits of Elaine.”
The Diemer played a motion picture in February of 1916 though mainly used as a live stage play venue. The Diemer Theatre stopped live plays in 1917 and was used as a live event venue until 1920. The location became Prescott’s Laundry and then a bank in 1941. The direct entry from the bridge was removed in 1954. The entire building was torn down in 1972.
I don’t, however, see any evidence that it was ever a nickelodeon.
The adult theater, the Studio, launched with the John Lamb documentary, “The Raw Ones” on March 8, 1969. It was closed on the Sabbath so as not to offend the community. The theatre survived the golden age of the porno chic era of film through to the advent of home video. The Studio closed on February 1, 1986 with Olinka Hardiman in “Blondes Like it Hot.”
The Grand Theatre launched likely on a twenty-year lease on June 18,1910 by W.W. Smith with motion pictures on a Mirror Glass Curtain. The nearly 800-seat theatre closed at the end of its lease on April 10, 1930 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Circus” never converting to sound.
On a new twenty-year lease, the venue had been wired for Western Electric sound becoming the New Iris Theatre showing movies. The independent operator’s opening double bill was on September 12, 1930 showing “Tarzan the Tiger” and “Boarder Romance.” The Iris Theatre (dropping New) operated as a discount sub-run house. The theatre appears to have closed with a bill of “Ghost City,” “Vanishing Legion,” and an Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit cartoon.
It was then taken over by Midwest Theatre Circuit out of Tulsa which also ran the Mullikin. Midwest and manager John Brown equipped it with 600 seats and went for a Spanish themed architectural style. It launched on August 9, 1933 with George Raft in “Night After Night” supported by Laurel & Hardy in “Scram” and Burns & Allen in “Your Hat.” The Mozark appears to have gone out of business at the end of its 20-year lease on August 18, 1950 with the double feature of “The Fatal Hour” and “The Shadow Returns.”
Just to be clear, this was never a newsreel movie theatre.
In September of 1956, the Kickapoo experimented with art films giving out coffee in the lobby. That appears to have been the last shot for the Kickapoo which ceased operations on November 30, 1956 with a double feature of “Diabolique” and “Captain’s Paradise.” It had a brief run as the Four Star Arena with live country music and also as a roller skating rink.
The Mullikin Theatre ended its movie run on December 28, 1952 with an awesome western triple feature of “Fury at Furnace Creek,” “Rope of Sand,” and “El Paso.” It then had a special nine-feature all-adult show for New Year’s Eve in 1952.
The AMC Studio 30 was closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on August 20, 2020 along with a number of locations offering throw-back 15 cents ticket prices as AMC tried to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. But with revenues reportedly off more than 90% year-to-year, AMC made the closure permanent after shows of November 8, 2020. It was one of many locations closed permanently by the circuit in a second wave of closures it announced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AMC Hamilton closed along with the rest of the circuit on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre was reopened on September 10, 2020. However, it was one of many theatres the circuit permanently closed on November 8, 2020 - a second major wave of closures it announced late in 2020 due to the pandemic. Although rent was a factor undoubtedly, AMC said the Hamilton 24’s closure was a result of the ongoing pandemic reporting revenue at theatre down in excess of 90% year over year.
AMC Oakview Plaza 24 was located as an outparcel building near Oak View Mall. The theatre reopened August 27, 2020 after being closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was one of many theatres the circuit closed permanently on November 8, 2020 - a second major wave of closures it announced late in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Cache Valley Mall opened July 28, 1976. Not far behind was the Grand Opening of the Cache Valley Mall Triplex Theatres likely on a 30-year lease. The Triplex launched August 6, 1976 after a ribbon cutting with the films, “Lifeguard,” “Bingo Long and the Traveling All-Stars, and “Swashbuckler.” Under new opeators, it would become the Cache Valley 3 Theatres operating just past its 30-year leasing cycle.
H.C. Heninger of the Cache Drive-In Theatre launched the Redwood Family Theatre after a $100,000 remodeling of the former Steed’s Dairy Bar building on March 3, 1976. Theatre Operators Inc. changed the name to the Redwood Theatre arranging screenings of R-rated features at discount prices for the nearby college crowd. It likely ceased operations in 1982. It later became the Reel Time and Logan Art House & Cinema.
The Rex Theatre launched by Harvey Johnson on November 2, 1914 with Lillian Worth in “The Pearl of Punjab.”
The Roxy Theatre opened October 23, 1935 with Alice Faye and George Raft in “Every Night at Eight” supported by selected shorts. After an ownership change a new 20-year lease, the theatre became the Utah Theatre on January 14, 1956 with Victor Mature in “The Last Frontier.”
Consolidated Theatres Circuit and the Thatcher Brothers opened the New-build Lyric Theatre replacing a previous Lyric Theatre. It opened September 22, 1913 with Lottie Pickford in “The House of Bondage” supported by four shorts and live music.
It might be noted that the Skydome had little in common with Springfield’s Air-Dome (1906-1908) and the Airdome (1909-1914) on East Walnut. Both were open live theaters which never were used for any cinematic purposes. But for the curious about those locations, here is some information.
Air-Dome had opened as a summer location for the Diemer Theatre four blocks away and was located in the former Central Park showgrounds. B.J. Diemer’s opening play was “For Love and Honor” on June 17, 1906. The open air theater ran three summer seasons with live plays ending in September of 1908.
Airdome on East Walnut was opened by the Bell, Olendorf & Ballard Amusement Circuit out of Kansas that purportedly programmed as many as 73 such airdomes and tent shows in the central states. Airdome launched with live shows on May 17, 1909 after a two-day weather delay with “The Great White Way.” Across the street was Fink’s Theater Pharmacy which served as the de facto concession stand with full soda fountain and candy options for patrons. Airdome ran six seasons through September 13, 1914 deciding not to reopen for Summer of 1915. Both Skydome and Airdome were demolished in 1915.
Though the Baldwin Theatre was known for live events, in 1898 the theatre began showing sporadic exhibitions of continuous motion pictures using two projectors to avoid breaks. And though the Baldwin wasn’t a regular movie theater, regular motion pictures were found within the larger, multi-purpose Baldwin Theatre Building for two months in 1907.
From May to June of 1907, the Nickelodeon took over a retail spot to show full-time movies in the “Store Show” era of film exhibition. The Nickelodeon opened May 3, 1907 with the Lubin film, “The Unwritten Law: A Thrilling Drama Based on the Thaw-White Case.” It closed with the Pathé Frères film, “Life and Passion of Christ” with the 44-minute film broken into three parts that required three separate nickel attendances over three days. The 15-minute screenings also saved on eye strain.
Meanwhile, the Baldwin remained true to is mission of providing live performances. However, an appearance by journalist Opie Read on January 5, 1909 ended the run of the venue which was completely destroyed by fire the next day. The Landers Theatre was the replacement for the Baldwin.
Though the Baldwin Theatre was known for live events, in 1898 the theatre began showing sporadic exhibitions of continuous motion pictures using two projectors to avoid breaks. From May to June of 1907 the Nickelodeon took over a retail spot within the Baldwin complex to show full-time movies. It opened May 3, 1907 with the Lubin film, “The Unwritten Law: A Thrilling Drama Based on the Thaw-White Case.”
Meanwhile, the Baldwin opted to go with live performances. But an appearance by journalist Opie Read on January 5, 1909 ended the run of the Baldwin which was completely destroyed by fire the next day. The Landers Theatre was the replacement for the Baldwin.
Captain Peabody brought his show business craft dating back to the “museums” of 1870s Kansas City to Springfield shepherding motion picture presentation at the Majestic, the Gem, and here at the Mecca. Combining motion pictures, tableau vivant/poses plastiques, illusion, and vaudeville, the Mecca launched as a family resort theatre experience on September 5, 1908.
Peabody would also program the Gem Theatre at its opening a year later. Professor Steora was installed as the full time magician and he along with motion pictures carried the Mecca only until 1910 when Professor Steora and the Mecca appear to have vanished for the last time. It was replaced by a meat market in 1911.
Ge orge and Anna Nagle moved to Shawano in 1914 and built the Crescent Theatre that year opening in 1915. George died prior to opening. Anna ran the theatre 47 years passing away at age 91 while working in the office of the Crescent. The Crescent continued to 1988 when Cinema I and II launched on East Green Bay. The theater’s second life was as the Crescent Pitcher Show from 1996 to 2013. It was being renovated to became a microbrewery potentially reopening in the early 2020s. The Nagle name is still at the top of the building.
If the trade press is correct, this opened as the Arcade Theatre in the early 1900s and was purchased by the operator of the Palace changing name to the Palace and going out of business without converting to sound. Independent Theaters, Inc., spent $15,000 refreshing the venue and wiring it for sound at a cost of $15,000 rebranding it as the Shawano Theatre in 1931.
W.W. Smith launched the Delmar Garden on July 24, 1911 which had an indoor and an outdoor theater. Opening day featured Schepp’s Famous Performing Ponies, Dogs and Monkeys along with motion pictures. The theatre appears to close during the summer of 1913.
The 300-seat Happy Hour Theatre opened with motion pictures on April 11, 1912 by the aforementioned Robert Franklin Barrett with the films, “The Fugitive,” “A Life for Sale” and “Symphony in Black.” The Unhappy Hour occurred on October 15, 1916 when the theatre closed with a triple feature of Lon Chaney in “The Desert Bat,” the Alva Brothers' “Mexican Insurrection” and Elsie Alberts in “Pie.”
The Ritz Theatre launched with a preview show on February 9, 1927 with Monte Blue in “Other Women’s Husbands” supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The actual Grand Opening was on February 13, 1927 with “Mile a Minute Morgan” starring Matty Mattison supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The Ritz was renamed as the Royal Theater on August 21, 1927 with the exploitation films, “Tell Me Why” and “The Naked Truth.” The Royal was a quick casualty not converting to sound.
The Park-In Theater launched August 31, 1947 in the brand new Plaza Shopping Center on Gladstone. It’s opening film was “The Yearling.” The neighborhood theater was next to Park-In Furniture as meterless parking by the door was aggressively marketed as a chief advantage by the shopping center. But almost immediately, people were confusing the Park-In bookings with the popular Drive- In Theater’s elsewhere in town. Nearly one year later, the theater was rebranded as the Tower Theatre on August 22, 1948 and would celebrate its first anniversary under that name eight days later. The theatre closed at the end of its second 25-year lease in 1997.
The Electric Theatre launched October 8, 1916 with Theda Bara in “Her Double Life.” Ten years later, the Electric Theatre received a major refresh including a mighty $25,000 Wurlitzer Orchestral Organ. Sydney B. Dawson was the organist at the opening. On February 9, 1930, the Electric became the Publix Electric Theatre when the circuit took on the location.
On September 24, 1930, the theatre became the Paramount Theatre with a dedication show screening of “The Santa Fe Trail” starring Richard Arlen. In 1933, Fox purchased the Paramount when Paramount Publix went into bankruptcy reorganization. It reverted reverted to the Electric Theatre with a November 30, 1933 showing of “Man’s Town.” The Electric became the Fox Theatre with a major streamlined moderne facelift and a World Premiere showing of “Killer McCoy” on December 4, 1947. Just five days later, the Fox was gutted by fire leaving its front and four walls intact.
The Fox moved its screenings to the inactive Jefferson Theatre while recreating the Fox. the Fox reopened on June 23, 1949 having a 35 year run. The architects for the new look Fox were Kent Cole and Sam Bihr, Jr. The Fox Theatre closed on December 2, 1984 with Clint Eastwood in “Tightrope.”
Fox took over the Jefferson Theatre renaming it as the Fox Plaza Theatre on September 14, 1930 with the film “Dancing Sweeties.” Fox retired the Plaza during World War III but decided to rehab the theatre after the Fox Theatre fire of December 9, 1947. The Fox bookings were moved here as of January 14, 1948 when the theatre was renamed the Fox Jewell Theatre named after Harry S. Jewell opening with the films “Good News” and “Blondie’s Sweethearts.” Movies ended on February 3, 1954 at the Jewell Theatre with a double feature of “Gun Fury” in 3-D and “China Venture” in 2-D.
The Jewell then became home to the locally-produced but nationally-fed ABC radio network series, “Ozark Jubilee” that ran from August 7, 1954 to September 23, 1960. When the series ended, the Jewell closed. Following a demolition sale, the Jewell was demolished almost 50 years after it was built in February of 1961. .
Dr. Diemer’s Theatre launched March 13, 1905 with the live play, “The Little Torrent.” The theatre operator had carved out a space in the Mercantile Building. There was a direct entrance to the theatre from the nearby bridge. Pearl White worked in the box office before becoming a player for the Diemer Theater Company. She went to Hollywood and became a popular serial actress including “The Perils of Pauline” and “The Exploits of Elaine.”
The Diemer played a motion picture in February of 1916 though mainly used as a live stage play venue. The Diemer Theatre stopped live plays in 1917 and was used as a live event venue until 1920. The location became Prescott’s Laundry and then a bank in 1941. The direct entry from the bridge was removed in 1954. The entire building was torn down in 1972.
I don’t, however, see any evidence that it was ever a nickelodeon.
The adult theater, the Studio, launched with the John Lamb documentary, “The Raw Ones” on March 8, 1969. It was closed on the Sabbath so as not to offend the community. The theatre survived the golden age of the porno chic era of film through to the advent of home video. The Studio closed on February 1, 1986 with Olinka Hardiman in “Blondes Like it Hot.”
The Grand Theatre launched likely on a twenty-year lease on June 18,1910 by W.W. Smith with motion pictures on a Mirror Glass Curtain. The nearly 800-seat theatre closed at the end of its lease on April 10, 1930 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Circus” never converting to sound.
On a new twenty-year lease, the venue had been wired for Western Electric sound becoming the New Iris Theatre showing movies. The independent operator’s opening double bill was on September 12, 1930 showing “Tarzan the Tiger” and “Boarder Romance.” The Iris Theatre (dropping New) operated as a discount sub-run house. The theatre appears to have closed with a bill of “Ghost City,” “Vanishing Legion,” and an Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit cartoon.
It was then taken over by Midwest Theatre Circuit out of Tulsa which also ran the Mullikin. Midwest and manager John Brown equipped it with 600 seats and went for a Spanish themed architectural style. It launched on August 9, 1933 with George Raft in “Night After Night” supported by Laurel & Hardy in “Scram” and Burns & Allen in “Your Hat.” The Mozark appears to have gone out of business at the end of its 20-year lease on August 18, 1950 with the double feature of “The Fatal Hour” and “The Shadow Returns.”
Just to be clear, this was never a newsreel movie theatre.
In September of 1956, the Kickapoo experimented with art films giving out coffee in the lobby. That appears to have been the last shot for the Kickapoo which ceased operations on November 30, 1956 with a double feature of “Diabolique” and “Captain’s Paradise.” It had a brief run as the Four Star Arena with live country music and also as a roller skating rink.
The Mullikin Theatre ended its movie run on December 28, 1952 with an awesome western triple feature of “Fury at Furnace Creek,” “Rope of Sand,” and “El Paso.” It then had a special nine-feature all-adult show for New Year’s Eve in 1952.