The Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic just prior to the late shows. On August 6, Showcase Cinemas Circuit made the closure permanent stating, “It has been a great pleasure to serve the Fairfield community for the last 26 years. Due to business circumstances, we will not reopen Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square. Any Showcase Starpass rewards currently available will be forfeited and no substitutions will be awarded. Since we don’t have any nearby theaters for you to visit, we will deactivate your account.” It was one of many theaters which closed during the pandemic which did not reopen.
Television challenged the Victory Theatre which had a period of closure when Millard Rethwisch closed it on June 11, 1957. But, apparently, Millard’s wife said she would run the place when it had its relaunch on August 15, 1957. However, the theater’s final show was August 27, 1961 when a fire gutted the auditorium on the morning of August 28, 1961. The Victory was a loss.
In reading further, the original Royal Theatre was opened in 1914 by the Downey family. Mrs. Gerogia Rasley took on the theatre. She had the Royal completely gutted for a refurbish in the same location which included a sloped floor with more seating, the arched front entry, the canopy with new-look sign, and sound system. The Royal appears to have made it to 1990.
The New Royal Theatre launched on November 13, 1930 with Amos ‘n’ Andy in “Check and Double Check.” It replaced the former Royal Theatre which had opened in 1914.
Opened February 1, 1967 with “The Blue Max.” Martin Theatres Circuit twinned the theater relaunching it as the Cinema Twin 1 & 2 with “Gone with the Wind” and “Day of the Dolphin” on December 20, 1974. Carmike took on the venue closing it as the Cinema Twin at the end of lease on August 28, 1997 with “Air Force One” splitting with “Nothing to Lose” on Screen 1 and “Mimic” on Screen 2.
The M.K.B. Sunset Drive-In Theatre opened April 28, 1949 with Ann Southern and Jack Carson in “April Showers” supported by the Popeye cartoon, “House Tricks?” It closed with Dolores Hart in “Lisa” on September 11, 1963.
The Sky-Vue Drive-In opened December 11, 1953 with George Montgomery in “Fort Ti” supported by widescreen shorts including a Three Stooges comedy and two cartoons. The Sky-Vue’s final owner, Carmike Theatres closed the theatre on September 2, 1985 with a Clint Eastwood double-feature of “Pale Rider” and “Tightrope.”
The Drive-In Theatre launched July 9, 1947 with “God’s Country” starring Robert Lowery. When the ozoner opened for its second season on March 5, 1948, it was renamed the Sumter Drive-In. It closed December 9, 1958 with Randolph Scott in “Buchanan Rides Alone.” It does not appear to have reopened.
Just for the sake of ease, this should be changed to the Lyric Theatre at 210 West State Street. (One picture of the Miller Theatre should be moved to that theater’s new entry.) This one should read:
Arthur G. “Tidy” Miller’s first Miller Theatre had launched in 1912 as the Electric Theatre then, later, Miller’s Theatre. But it proved too small for the town’s growing interest in motion pictures. Miller moved the operation to the town’s Memorial Hall. He launched the Lyric Theatre on February 9, 1926 on a 20-year lease with Lon Chaney in “The Unholy Three.” The theatre had 250 seats.
On January 19, 1930, the theatre was equipped with Western Electric sound showing the film, “The Sophomore” to bring talkies to Atkinson. After World War II and the Lyric’s leasing deal reaching expiry, Miller closed the Lyric to move to a new location. The former Memorial Hall/Lyric Theatre served as the town’s American Legion Building. When the American Legion moved, it became the town’s library and community auditorium sometimes referred to as the Lyric Theatre.
As for Tidy Miller, he converted the former Seger Brothers garage to launch the town’s second Miller Theatre. It opened on May 12, 1946 on a 30-year lease. It has its own entry. Miller survived the first 29 years of the new Miller Theatre but passed away after more than 60 years of motion picture operation in downtown Atkinson.
The local paper reports no listings for a Brewster Theater. There was a movie theatre established in town and was installed in Miller Hall. The Harris Theatre was opened by Lester Harris on October 4, 1941. Harris also operated the nearby Dunning and Halsey theaters. The Harris Theatre appears to have ceased operation in February of 1947.
Fred Rodocker took over the operation showing films until January 1, 1954 as the Rodocker Theatre. On October 9, 1957 the Rodocker Theatre reopened for one last shot at relevance in the TV era. Ot does not appear to have been welcomed back by patrons.
The Star Theatre launched on November 25, 1915 by L.F. Flower with “Ole Johnson in Mexico” as its opening film. It operated before the town had electrical light service so had its own generator. When the New Ideal Theatre opened in September of 1918, it became fairly clear that the operators would struggle in a two-owner town. Flower bought the Ideal in 1919 to reduce ownership to one operator and downgraded the Star to weekend operation only.
Flower then sold the operation to Thomas Ishmael who closed the Star after a brief period of operation. The town was operating with just one theater. But at the end of 1922, William Ostenberg, Jr. and Lloyd Streed took on the Star renaming it as the Rialto Theatre with a grand relaunch on January 22, 1923 with Thomas Meighan and Lila Lee in “Back Home and Broke” supported by a Buster Keaton comedy short, “The Boat.”
On November 26, 1928, Fox West Coast Theatre Circuit took on the location calling it the Fox Rialto Theatre. Fox promised the Rialto’s conversion to sound three different times in 1930 but appears to have simply and quietly dropped the theatre from its chain in mid-1930. The theatre closed under new operators early in 1931 though doing some live local events during the year.
At some point, the theatre became the Rex Theatre and wired for sound. Fire just prior to the May 19, 1945 gutted the interior of the theater.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rodgers opened the new-build, New Ideal Theatre which launched on September 5, 1918. It was operated by Jim. I Zimmerman and Thomas Ishmael. In 1919, the operator of the Star Theatre took on the Ideal relegating the Star to Saturday night only operation. It was then sold to Ishmael who operated it for a short period and closed the Star.
On September 3, 1927, the Rodgers took control back over the Ideal operation and renamed it the Palm Theatre likely for its new owners. Sallow & Hughes Circuit ran the venture followed by at least four other operators.
July 10, 1953 was the grand opening of the 250-car Oshkosh Drive-In Theatre with a double-feature of Frankie Laine in “Rainbow Round My Shoulder” and George Montgomery in “Jack McCall, Desperado.” Appears to have closed following the 1972 season at the end of a 20-year lease.
The AMC Classic North Platte 6 closed March 16, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 30, 2020, AMC announced the North Platte 6 closure would be permanent becoming one of many theaters closed permanently during the pandemic.
The Star Theatre launched April 19, 1909 in a new-build facility by O.H. Mevis on the East Side of the Broken Bow square. The fifth operator of the Star Theatre closed it on July 3, 1918 and moved the equipment to Seneca ending the theater’s run for just over a year. The theatre reopened under new operator W.H. Jones on July 29, 1919. Jones had previously operated the theater in Merna.
Horace F. Kennedy of the Lyric took over the theatre one year later ostensibly to remove a competitor. It was converted for use as a dry cleaner which opened in 1922. Myers Dry Cleaners closed there in 1941 with the building then demolished for the new-build and short-lived Farris-Black Store.
The O’Neill Drive-In launched June. 1, 1952 and operated two weeks before a windstorm closed it temporarily. The theater was rebuilt and continued for 30 years into the beginning of the home video era.
The Bow Drive-In Theatre was launched by the Kennedy family which had opened its first movie theater in downtown Broken Bow in 1911. This was Horace’s son, C, Howard who was launching his second theater following the 1936 opening of the Bow Theater. The Bow opened with “White Witch Doctor” on August 20, 1953.
And you likely won’t have to worry about setting foot in it ever again. The Real to Reel Theatre in Johnson City closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. The independent sub-run discount cinema made the closure permanent with an announcement two months later in mid-June ending the theater’s run.
The Arlington Theatre launched with two sold out shows for Interstate Theatre Circuit on February 10, 1950 with “The Story of Seabiscuit.” Mayor B.C. Barnes cut a ceremonial ribbon and the Flying Ranchboys and Durrelle Alexander preformed live on stage prior to the film. Interstate moved on from the Arlington on August 29, 1974 after Walt Disney’s “Absent Minded Professor.” It then became a church before being used for live concerts first by Johnny High’s Country Review beginning in 1995 as the Arlington Music Hall.
The Arlington Theatre launched with two sold out shows for Interstate Theatre Circuit on February 10, 1950 with “The Story of Seabiscuit.” Mayor B.C. Barnes cut a ceremonial ribbon and the Flying Ranchboys and Durrelle Alexander preformed live on stage prior to the film. Became a church before turning to live events.
Robert R. Booth had a group of small-town silent theaters in the late 1910s. Auburn was home to theaters including the Booth, the Bennett Theatre run by Ole Bennett, the Rex/former Opera House, and the Auburn. The Auburn and Booth made it into the sound era with the others not making the transition.
On July 3, 1929, Robert Booth moved the Booth to its new and current location with a grand reopening as the New Booth Theatre. Wes W. Booth took over the theater in 1934. It had been renamed the Booth Theatre.
On June 24, 1939, the Booth Brothers sold three of their venues (Booth Theaters in Auburn and Nebraska City and Paramount in Nebraska City) to the Griffith Theatre Circuit took over the location, the gave the Booth Theatre a streamline moderne makeover complete with a blue porcelain sign with neon tubing spelling, “State.” That was the theater’s new name as of January 1, 1941. The Auburn Theatre was also purchased by the Griffith Circuit and appears to have continued operating into the late 1950s.
The State Theatre made the conversion to digital after some community support and was still in operation in the 2020s after 90 years in the same location.
Canton’s Gem Theatre launched January 14, 1910 with motion pictures and 150 folding chairs by William Halloway. Art Goetz and Frank F. Page took on the Gem in December closing for the installation of permanent seating at its relaunch on January 25, 1911. Shows consisted of three one-reel film shorts, live music and other entertainment. Business was brisk and the pair moved to the 106 North 4th location in July 1912. S.R. Staples Hardware took over the original Gem location soon thereafter.
At its new location, the Gem was branded as “the place where you see the pick of the pictures” in 1912. The 1912 film, “From the Manger to the Cross” became the first three-reel feature shown in Canton. Longer silent films became the norm at the venue. Goetz and Page converted the Gem to a more modern theater with sound and sloped floor in May of 1930 by tearing out the rear wall of the theatre. It relaunched June 11, 1930 as the “home of talking pictures” with the Bebe Daniels film, “Rio Rita” supported by the Oswald, the Rabbit, cartoon, “Chile Con Carmon.” Goetz and Page sold the Gem in 1932.
John Louis Collins of the Collins Theatre Circuit took over the theatre in late October 1932 closing it for a major update. It relaunched November 3, 1932 as the New Gem Theater – a name it retained until closure. Playing was “The Night of June 13” supported by a Betty Boop cartoon, a “Hollywood Parade” short and “The Unemployed Ghost” with Tom Howard.
The New Gem received a new RCA sound system and another relaunch on July 20, 1933. Collins Theatres then purchased the former Miller-Starr Opera House which had been home to various businesses between 1922 and 1937 after its days as an opera house. In 1937, the opera house was essentially razed keeping little of the original opera house which had been retrofitted for the various retail ventures. It reopened with its new deco front and interior designed for motion pictures. Collins turned the managerial job over to Raymond McBrayer in October of 1937, He closed the New Gem Theatre on November 9, 1937 with “Manhattan Melodrama.” McBrayer then launched the Canton Theater three nights later for the Collins Circuit in the same address as the opera house on November 12, 1937.
This theatre should be referred to as the New Gem Theater formerly known as the Gem Theater.
The Miller-Starr Opera House launched December 4, 1893 with the live play, “Two Old Cronies.” A.J. Miller was on hand with Captain N.D. Starr. Live theater gave way to motion pictures in 1917 competing with the Gem Theater. The Gem won the battle and the old opera house was used for sporadic live local events. It closed in 1922 becoming home to a jewelry store followed by a number of other businesses including Harry’s Tavern and Wood’s Tire Shop.
John Louis Collins of the Collins Theatre Circuit acquired both the New Gem Theater in 1932 and, later, the former Opera House in downtown Canton. Collins virtually razed the opera house which had been altered many times for a variety of businesses. Collins Theatres created a new-look, deco venue built in 1937 designed for sound motion pictures.
Collins turned the managerial reins over to Raymond McBrayer in October of 1937. He finished the project and closed the long-running New Gem Theatre after just over 25 years on November 9, 1937 with “Manhattan Melodrama.” McBrayer would launch the Canton Theater for Collins Circuit three nights later in the former opera house location on November 12, 1937 with Bing Crosby and Martha Raye in “Double or Nothing” supported by shorts including Eddie Peabody in “Hula Heaven” and a Mickey Mouse cartoon.
The Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic just prior to the late shows. On August 6, Showcase Cinemas Circuit made the closure permanent stating, “It has been a great pleasure to serve the Fairfield community for the last 26 years. Due to business circumstances, we will not reopen Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square. Any Showcase Starpass rewards currently available will be forfeited and no substitutions will be awarded. Since we don’t have any nearby theaters for you to visit, we will deactivate your account.” It was one of many theaters which closed during the pandemic which did not reopen.
Television challenged the Victory Theatre which had a period of closure when Millard Rethwisch closed it on June 11, 1957. But, apparently, Millard’s wife said she would run the place when it had its relaunch on August 15, 1957. However, the theater’s final show was August 27, 1961 when a fire gutted the auditorium on the morning of August 28, 1961. The Victory was a loss.
In reading further, the original Royal Theatre was opened in 1914 by the Downey family. Mrs. Gerogia Rasley took on the theatre. She had the Royal completely gutted for a refurbish in the same location which included a sloped floor with more seating, the arched front entry, the canopy with new-look sign, and sound system. The Royal appears to have made it to 1990.
The New Royal Theatre launched on November 13, 1930 with Amos ‘n’ Andy in “Check and Double Check.” It replaced the former Royal Theatre which had opened in 1914.
Opened February 1, 1967 with “The Blue Max.” Martin Theatres Circuit twinned the theater relaunching it as the Cinema Twin 1 & 2 with “Gone with the Wind” and “Day of the Dolphin” on December 20, 1974. Carmike took on the venue closing it as the Cinema Twin at the end of lease on August 28, 1997 with “Air Force One” splitting with “Nothing to Lose” on Screen 1 and “Mimic” on Screen 2.
The M.K.B. Sunset Drive-In Theatre opened April 28, 1949 with Ann Southern and Jack Carson in “April Showers” supported by the Popeye cartoon, “House Tricks?” It closed with Dolores Hart in “Lisa” on September 11, 1963.
The Sky-Vue Drive-In opened December 11, 1953 with George Montgomery in “Fort Ti” supported by widescreen shorts including a Three Stooges comedy and two cartoons. The Sky-Vue’s final owner, Carmike Theatres closed the theatre on September 2, 1985 with a Clint Eastwood double-feature of “Pale Rider” and “Tightrope.”
The Drive-In Theatre launched July 9, 1947 with “God’s Country” starring Robert Lowery. When the ozoner opened for its second season on March 5, 1948, it was renamed the Sumter Drive-In. It closed December 9, 1958 with Randolph Scott in “Buchanan Rides Alone.” It does not appear to have reopened.
Just for the sake of ease, this should be changed to the Lyric Theatre at 210 West State Street. (One picture of the Miller Theatre should be moved to that theater’s new entry.) This one should read:
Arthur G. “Tidy” Miller’s first Miller Theatre had launched in 1912 as the Electric Theatre then, later, Miller’s Theatre. But it proved too small for the town’s growing interest in motion pictures. Miller moved the operation to the town’s Memorial Hall. He launched the Lyric Theatre on February 9, 1926 on a 20-year lease with Lon Chaney in “The Unholy Three.” The theatre had 250 seats.
On January 19, 1930, the theatre was equipped with Western Electric sound showing the film, “The Sophomore” to bring talkies to Atkinson. After World War II and the Lyric’s leasing deal reaching expiry, Miller closed the Lyric to move to a new location. The former Memorial Hall/Lyric Theatre served as the town’s American Legion Building. When the American Legion moved, it became the town’s library and community auditorium sometimes referred to as the Lyric Theatre.
As for Tidy Miller, he converted the former Seger Brothers garage to launch the town’s second Miller Theatre. It opened on May 12, 1946 on a 30-year lease. It has its own entry. Miller survived the first 29 years of the new Miller Theatre but passed away after more than 60 years of motion picture operation in downtown Atkinson.
The local paper reports no listings for a Brewster Theater. There was a movie theatre established in town and was installed in Miller Hall. The Harris Theatre was opened by Lester Harris on October 4, 1941. Harris also operated the nearby Dunning and Halsey theaters. The Harris Theatre appears to have ceased operation in February of 1947.
Fred Rodocker took over the operation showing films until January 1, 1954 as the Rodocker Theatre. On October 9, 1957 the Rodocker Theatre reopened for one last shot at relevance in the TV era. Ot does not appear to have been welcomed back by patrons.
The Star Theatre launched on November 25, 1915 by L.F. Flower with “Ole Johnson in Mexico” as its opening film. It operated before the town had electrical light service so had its own generator. When the New Ideal Theatre opened in September of 1918, it became fairly clear that the operators would struggle in a two-owner town. Flower bought the Ideal in 1919 to reduce ownership to one operator and downgraded the Star to weekend operation only.
Flower then sold the operation to Thomas Ishmael who closed the Star after a brief period of operation. The town was operating with just one theater. But at the end of 1922, William Ostenberg, Jr. and Lloyd Streed took on the Star renaming it as the Rialto Theatre with a grand relaunch on January 22, 1923 with Thomas Meighan and Lila Lee in “Back Home and Broke” supported by a Buster Keaton comedy short, “The Boat.”
On November 26, 1928, Fox West Coast Theatre Circuit took on the location calling it the Fox Rialto Theatre. Fox promised the Rialto’s conversion to sound three different times in 1930 but appears to have simply and quietly dropped the theatre from its chain in mid-1930. The theatre closed under new operators early in 1931 though doing some live local events during the year.
At some point, the theatre became the Rex Theatre and wired for sound. Fire just prior to the May 19, 1945 gutted the interior of the theater.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rodgers opened the new-build, New Ideal Theatre which launched on September 5, 1918. It was operated by Jim. I Zimmerman and Thomas Ishmael. In 1919, the operator of the Star Theatre took on the Ideal relegating the Star to Saturday night only operation. It was then sold to Ishmael who operated it for a short period and closed the Star.
On September 3, 1927, the Rodgers took control back over the Ideal operation and renamed it the Palm Theatre likely for its new owners. Sallow & Hughes Circuit ran the venture followed by at least four other operators.
July 10, 1953 was the grand opening of the 250-car Oshkosh Drive-In Theatre with a double-feature of Frankie Laine in “Rainbow Round My Shoulder” and George Montgomery in “Jack McCall, Desperado.” Appears to have closed following the 1972 season at the end of a 20-year lease.
The AMC Classic North Platte 6 closed March 16, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 30, 2020, AMC announced the North Platte 6 closure would be permanent becoming one of many theaters closed permanently during the pandemic.
The Star Theatre launched April 19, 1909 in a new-build facility by O.H. Mevis on the East Side of the Broken Bow square. The fifth operator of the Star Theatre closed it on July 3, 1918 and moved the equipment to Seneca ending the theater’s run for just over a year. The theatre reopened under new operator W.H. Jones on July 29, 1919. Jones had previously operated the theater in Merna.
Horace F. Kennedy of the Lyric took over the theatre one year later ostensibly to remove a competitor. It was converted for use as a dry cleaner which opened in 1922. Myers Dry Cleaners closed there in 1941 with the building then demolished for the new-build and short-lived Farris-Black Store.
The O’Neill Drive-In launched June. 1, 1952 and operated two weeks before a windstorm closed it temporarily. The theater was rebuilt and continued for 30 years into the beginning of the home video era.
The Bow Drive-In Theatre was launched by the Kennedy family which had opened its first movie theater in downtown Broken Bow in 1911. This was Horace’s son, C, Howard who was launching his second theater following the 1936 opening of the Bow Theater. The Bow opened with “White Witch Doctor” on August 20, 1953.
And you likely won’t have to worry about setting foot in it ever again. The Real to Reel Theatre in Johnson City closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. The independent sub-run discount cinema made the closure permanent with an announcement two months later in mid-June ending the theater’s run.
The Arlington Theatre launched with two sold out shows for Interstate Theatre Circuit on February 10, 1950 with “The Story of Seabiscuit.” Mayor B.C. Barnes cut a ceremonial ribbon and the Flying Ranchboys and Durrelle Alexander preformed live on stage prior to the film. Interstate moved on from the Arlington on August 29, 1974 after Walt Disney’s “Absent Minded Professor.” It then became a church before being used for live concerts first by Johnny High’s Country Review beginning in 1995 as the Arlington Music Hall.
The Arlington Theatre launched with two sold out shows for Interstate Theatre Circuit on February 10, 1950 with “The Story of Seabiscuit.” Mayor B.C. Barnes cut a ceremonial ribbon and the Flying Ranchboys and Durrelle Alexander preformed live on stage prior to the film. Became a church before turning to live events.
A larger video store appeared in Burleson and the video library either discontinued advertising or likely closed prior to the cinema’s closure.
Robert R. Booth had a group of small-town silent theaters in the late 1910s. Auburn was home to theaters including the Booth, the Bennett Theatre run by Ole Bennett, the Rex/former Opera House, and the Auburn. The Auburn and Booth made it into the sound era with the others not making the transition.
On July 3, 1929, Robert Booth moved the Booth to its new and current location with a grand reopening as the New Booth Theatre. Wes W. Booth took over the theater in 1934. It had been renamed the Booth Theatre.
On June 24, 1939, the Booth Brothers sold three of their venues (Booth Theaters in Auburn and Nebraska City and Paramount in Nebraska City) to the Griffith Theatre Circuit took over the location, the gave the Booth Theatre a streamline moderne makeover complete with a blue porcelain sign with neon tubing spelling, “State.” That was the theater’s new name as of January 1, 1941. The Auburn Theatre was also purchased by the Griffith Circuit and appears to have continued operating into the late 1950s.
The State Theatre made the conversion to digital after some community support and was still in operation in the 2020s after 90 years in the same location.
Correction: It closed in 1990
Canton’s Gem Theatre launched January 14, 1910 with motion pictures and 150 folding chairs by William Halloway. Art Goetz and Frank F. Page took on the Gem in December closing for the installation of permanent seating at its relaunch on January 25, 1911. Shows consisted of three one-reel film shorts, live music and other entertainment. Business was brisk and the pair moved to the 106 North 4th location in July 1912. S.R. Staples Hardware took over the original Gem location soon thereafter.
At its new location, the Gem was branded as “the place where you see the pick of the pictures” in 1912. The 1912 film, “From the Manger to the Cross” became the first three-reel feature shown in Canton. Longer silent films became the norm at the venue. Goetz and Page converted the Gem to a more modern theater with sound and sloped floor in May of 1930 by tearing out the rear wall of the theatre. It relaunched June 11, 1930 as the “home of talking pictures” with the Bebe Daniels film, “Rio Rita” supported by the Oswald, the Rabbit, cartoon, “Chile Con Carmon.” Goetz and Page sold the Gem in 1932.
John Louis Collins of the Collins Theatre Circuit took over the theatre in late October 1932 closing it for a major update. It relaunched November 3, 1932 as the New Gem Theater – a name it retained until closure. Playing was “The Night of June 13” supported by a Betty Boop cartoon, a “Hollywood Parade” short and “The Unemployed Ghost” with Tom Howard.
The New Gem received a new RCA sound system and another relaunch on July 20, 1933. Collins Theatres then purchased the former Miller-Starr Opera House which had been home to various businesses between 1922 and 1937 after its days as an opera house. In 1937, the opera house was essentially razed keeping little of the original opera house which had been retrofitted for the various retail ventures. It reopened with its new deco front and interior designed for motion pictures. Collins turned the managerial job over to Raymond McBrayer in October of 1937, He closed the New Gem Theatre on November 9, 1937 with “Manhattan Melodrama.” McBrayer then launched the Canton Theater three nights later for the Collins Circuit in the same address as the opera house on November 12, 1937.
This theatre should be referred to as the New Gem Theater formerly known as the Gem Theater.
The Miller-Starr Opera House launched December 4, 1893 with the live play, “Two Old Cronies.” A.J. Miller was on hand with Captain N.D. Starr. Live theater gave way to motion pictures in 1917 competing with the Gem Theater. The Gem won the battle and the old opera house was used for sporadic live local events. It closed in 1922 becoming home to a jewelry store followed by a number of other businesses including Harry’s Tavern and Wood’s Tire Shop.
John Louis Collins of the Collins Theatre Circuit acquired both the New Gem Theater in 1932 and, later, the former Opera House in downtown Canton. Collins virtually razed the opera house which had been altered many times for a variety of businesses. Collins Theatres created a new-look, deco venue built in 1937 designed for sound motion pictures.
Collins turned the managerial reins over to Raymond McBrayer in October of 1937. He finished the project and closed the long-running New Gem Theatre after just over 25 years on November 9, 1937 with “Manhattan Melodrama.” McBrayer would launch the Canton Theater for Collins Circuit three nights later in the former opera house location on November 12, 1937 with Bing Crosby and Martha Raye in “Double or Nothing” supported by shorts including Eddie Peabody in “Hula Heaven” and a Mickey Mouse cartoon.