Sunset Amusement was one of two companies building drive-ins in town in early 1952. The Sunset Drive-In Theatre rose on July 9, 1952 with “Cattle Drive” and “Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby.” The Broadview was the other. Edwin “Eddie” Johnson and Dr. William Humphrey were game but bowed out after the season-ending October 15, 1961 showing of “Hoodlum Priest.” One of the new land owners, Jim McElroy said the 1962 season would not occur deciding to retain the McElroy Farm located Broadview eliminating the competition .
Uniontown was encouraged by the opening of the Dohn Theatre on September 4, 1935 with “Cardinal Richelieu.” Less than four months later, its booth exploded just after December 22, 1935’s showing of “She Gets Her Man” taking the theatre, the Hardesty Drug Store, the Clarence Clark-owned cleaner and one more building in its path.
The Union Theatre “#1” opened in an existing building to take its place in temporary digs. Police Chief Harry Whitefield felt it would be a crime not to have a brand new, new-build movie theatre. He opened Union Theatre #2 November 10, 1948 in the same spot as the former Dohn with “Unconquered.” Union #2 closed on August 25, 1957 with “Three Stripes in the Sun.”
Unfortunately, Uniontown gets the opening of the Dohn Theatre on September 4, 1935 with “Cardinal Richelieu.” Less than four months later, its booth will explode just after December 22, 1935’s showing of “She Gets Her Man” taking the theatre, the Hardesty Drug Store, the Clarence Clark-owned cleaner and one more building in its path.
Mid-States Cinemas opened here as a six-plex on December 22nd, 1976. Mid-States Cinemas expanded to nine auditoriums in December of 1979 halving half of the ‘plex and a plan to extend to 12 auditoriums in December of 1980 that was delayed. In December of 1985, USACinemas took over operation of the Mid-States Cinemas including the Florence venue. The other half of the venue was halved to create a 12-plex.
In January of 1988, Loews Cineplex Entertainment took over the USACinema locations including the Florence operation effective April 6, 1989. On April 26, 1996, the venue became a National Amusements / Showcase location. Showcase closed on Labor Day, September 1, 2008 having created a stadium-seating, modern megaplex. This venue was offered for lease for four years before being demolished.
The venue opened on July 6, 1956 with “Bounty Hunter” and “Rear Window". It celebrated its 50th birthday in 2016 closing at the end of that season - albeit with a respite in there.
The new $25,000 theater was announced by Richard Wagner of the Wagner Amusement Company of Sioux Falls. It was another Publix location upon opening taking the place of the Olmore Block, a frame building demolished for the project that had once housed a Red Owl grocery store.
The State opened with “Merely Mary Ann” on September 25, 1931 in downtown Madison. It switched to widescreen in the 1950s to present CinemaScope titles. The State Theatre closed on July 1, 1978 with “Gray Lady Down” after being sold to the National Bank of South Dakota. It timed out to the opening of the West Twin Cinema. The former State Theatre building was demolished in August of 1978.
The Berlin Electric Theatre opened on August 15, 1908 by Glenn Thomas of Mason City, Iowa. The venue dropped “Electric” and then “Berlin” becoming the Ruby Theatre on March 10, 1911.
In 1914, the local paper reports a a major transformation of the Hundemer Block which would become the Elks Building and home to the New Ruby Theatre opening that October to the plans of Architect Miller of Chicago. So the operation opened in the corner of Egan Avenue and First Street SE on a new leasing deal. The Ruby Theater made it to the end of a 15-year leasing agreement. But it did not make the conversion to sound ceasing operations in 1929. Early in 1930, it became a second-hand store for J.T. Sledge.
On May 2, 1971, the Ruby Theatre / Elks Building burned down.
The August 21, 1916 grand opening ad for the Lyric Theatre with Lucille Lee Stewart in “The Destroyers" is in photos. Publix took on the venue and they would wire it for sound - Western Electric sound on film, the second installed there, being the keeper - in 1929.
The May 7, 1954 changeover ad to the Egan Theatre is also in photos. Roger Drury closed the Egan Theatre on December 11, 1960 with the equipment sold off to the Madison Drive-In and operator Joe Prill. On June 19, 1961, the building was demolished with free bricks for anyone who came by.
Bastrop got clearance for two WW2 era movie houses thanks to its proximity to Camp Swift about 8 miles away. The Texas had opened in March 13, 1942 and, two months later, the Tower opened May 26, 1942 with “Rings on Her Finger.” It hit its 50th Anniversary in 1992 was operated by Lee Roy Mitchell until January 31, 1996 when it burned well after “Jumanji” had played. But the Tower and the converted Opera House as the Strand proved to be the only two venues needed in the town of just over 2,000 residents with the Texas Theatre closing quickly.
The Village Drive-In opened after a naming contest on April 28, 1950 by Robert Rogers with Esther Williams as “Neptune’s Daughter.” Rogers would sell the drive-in prior to 1952’s season’s end to M.B. Miller. In 1960, the screen tower was moved to a widescreen format to present CinemaScope films. The Village and the hardtop theater in downtown Ennis later became one of the earliest venues for future Cinemark owner Lee Roy Mitchell and his long cinema exhibition career. It appears to have closed as a result of local protests about showing X-rated films in November/December of 1984.
Sunset Amusement was one of two companies building drive-ins in town in early 1952. The Sunset Drive-In Theatre rose on July 9, 1952 with “Cattle Drive” and “Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby.” The Broadview was the other. Edwin “Eddie” Johnson and Dr. William Humphrey were game but bowed out after the season-ending October 15, 1961 showing of “Hoodlum Priest.” One of the new land owners, Jim McElroy said the 1962 season would not occur deciding to retain the McElroy Farm located Broadview eliminating the competition .
Uniontown was encouraged by the opening of the Dohn Theatre on September 4, 1935 with “Cardinal Richelieu.” Less than four months later, its booth exploded just after December 22, 1935’s showing of “She Gets Her Man” taking the theatre, the Hardesty Drug Store, the Clarence Clark-owned cleaner and one more building in its path.
The Union Theatre “#1” opened in an existing building to take its place in temporary digs. Police Chief Harry Whitefield felt it would be a crime not to have a brand new, new-build movie theatre. He opened Union Theatre #2 November 10, 1948 in the same spot as the former Dohn with “Unconquered.” Union #2 closed on August 25, 1957 with “Three Stripes in the Sun.”
Unfortunately, Uniontown gets the opening of the Dohn Theatre on September 4, 1935 with “Cardinal Richelieu.” Less than four months later, its booth will explode just after December 22, 1935’s showing of “She Gets Her Man” taking the theatre, the Hardesty Drug Store, the Clarence Clark-owned cleaner and one more building in its path.
Mid-States Cinemas opened here as a six-plex on December 22nd, 1976. Mid-States Cinemas expanded to nine auditoriums in December of 1979 halving half of the ‘plex and a plan to extend to 12 auditoriums in December of 1980 that was delayed. In December of 1985, USACinemas took over operation of the Mid-States Cinemas including the Florence venue. The other half of the venue was halved to create a 12-plex.
In January of 1988, Loews Cineplex Entertainment took over the USACinema locations including the Florence operation effective April 6, 1989. On April 26, 1996, the venue became a National Amusements / Showcase location. Showcase closed on Labor Day, September 1, 2008 having created a stadium-seating, modern megaplex. This venue was offered for lease for four years before being demolished.
May 6, 1990.
Opened Sep. 4, 1936 with “Rhythm on the Range” supported by “Our Gang” in “Pinch Singer” and the Haman-Ising animated short, “Bottles.”
The venue opened on July 6, 1956 with “Bounty Hunter” and “Rear Window". It celebrated its 50th birthday in 2016 closing at the end of that season - albeit with a respite in there.
July 6, 1956 opener with “Bounty Hunter” and “Rear Window"
The Harrod Theatre launched on January 25, 1940 with “Judge Hardy and Son” supported by Movietone News.
The Harrod Theatre launched on January 25, 1940 with “Judge Hardy and Son” supported by Movietone News.
The Plant City Drive-Inn (two “n"s) Theatre opened January 24, 1950 with Abbott & Costello on the big screen with "The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap.”
Paragon Entertainment Group took on the venue and are reopening in Fall of 2026. Restoring.
The new $25,000 theater was announced by Richard Wagner of the Wagner Amusement Company of Sioux Falls. It was another Publix location upon opening taking the place of the Olmore Block, a frame building demolished for the project that had once housed a Red Owl grocery store.
The State opened with “Merely Mary Ann” on September 25, 1931 in downtown Madison. It switched to widescreen in the 1950s to present CinemaScope titles. The State Theatre closed on July 1, 1978 with “Gray Lady Down” after being sold to the National Bank of South Dakota. It timed out to the opening of the West Twin Cinema. The former State Theatre building was demolished in August of 1978.
The Berlin Electric Theatre opened on August 15, 1908 by Glenn Thomas of Mason City, Iowa. The venue dropped “Electric” and then “Berlin” becoming the Ruby Theatre on March 10, 1911.
In 1914, the local paper reports a a major transformation of the Hundemer Block which would become the Elks Building and home to the New Ruby Theatre opening that October to the plans of Architect Miller of Chicago. So the operation opened in the corner of Egan Avenue and First Street SE on a new leasing deal. The Ruby Theater made it to the end of a 15-year leasing agreement. But it did not make the conversion to sound ceasing operations in 1929. Early in 1930, it became a second-hand store for J.T. Sledge.
On May 2, 1971, the Ruby Theatre / Elks Building burned down.
The August 21, 1916 grand opening ad for the Lyric Theatre with Lucille Lee Stewart in “The Destroyers" is in photos. Publix took on the venue and they would wire it for sound - Western Electric sound on film, the second installed there, being the keeper - in 1929.
The May 7, 1954 changeover ad to the Egan Theatre is also in photos. Roger Drury closed the Egan Theatre on December 11, 1960 with the equipment sold off to the Madison Drive-In and operator Joe Prill. On June 19, 1961, the building was demolished with free bricks for anyone who came by.
May 7, 1954 changeover ad to the Egan Theatre
The West Twin Theatre opened on July 7, 1978 with one screen ready (#2) and “high Anxiety”
The Madison’s last ad was in July of 1982 and an article stated that the grounds were maintained at least into the late 1980s.
August 21, 1916 grand opening ad for the Lyric Theatre with “The Destroyers.”
Duane A. Becker opened the Madison Drive-In on August 4, 1949
December 17, 1915 - the Unique Theatre is part of the Barndrup Block and the owners wish they hadn’t have been.
Bastrop got clearance for two WW2 era movie houses thanks to its proximity to Camp Swift about 8 miles away. The Texas had opened in March 13, 1942 and, two months later, the Tower opened May 26, 1942 with “Rings on Her Finger.” It hit its 50th Anniversary in 1992 was operated by Lee Roy Mitchell until January 31, 1996 when it burned well after “Jumanji” had played. But the Tower and the converted Opera House as the Strand proved to be the only two venues needed in the town of just over 2,000 residents with the Texas Theatre closing quickly.
The Village Drive-In opened after a naming contest on April 28, 1950 by Robert Rogers with Esther Williams as “Neptune’s Daughter.” Rogers would sell the drive-in prior to 1952’s season’s end to M.B. Miller. In 1960, the screen tower was moved to a widescreen format to present CinemaScope films. The Village and the hardtop theater in downtown Ennis later became one of the earliest venues for future Cinemark owner Lee Roy Mitchell and his long cinema exhibition career. It appears to have closed as a result of local protests about showing X-rated films in November/December of 1984.
Final day - April 1, 1976
Lantex Theatre (no hyphen) and definitely showing contemporary, new release films in 2026.