A crowd of people gather outside the movie theater in Ripon, Wisconsin to welcome home Milwaukee native and Ripon College alumnus Spencer Tracy in celebration of his 1940 movie “Edison the Man”.
Ripon College Archives, Ripon College.
Facebook album with multiple images and history/owners of the theatre from 1914 forward.
One video in the description as well.
Courtesy Alvaro L Guevara, Admin of Echo Park History.
This was the Columbia Theatre at 108 E. 4th Street. Circa 1910 postcard image added credit Deb Mather Renner, courtesy Ritchie Miller.
The building still stands today as Soul Book Nook using the 110 E. 4th Street address, a combination of the 106, 108 & 110 addresses shown on the Sanborn map.
Also added the Google street view, the building with the Surplus sign is the former Columbia Theatre.
Copy and paste link at bottom to scroll through for 24 demolition photos.
Description credit Urban Remains.
kodachrome images of charles k. ramsey’s caesar’s cafe (1896), located at 210 north 6th street, st. louis, mo.
from 1915-1922 it was the known as the royal theater, then rivoli theater from 1922-1970, and finally towne theater until 1983, when it was demolished to make way for the metropolitan square building.
the theater was altered in 1922 by the rivoli theater company with new facade (comprised of sgraffito concrete tiles and terra cotta), upgraded ventilation system, and additional seating.
the majoirty of the facade and 8 interior hand-painted canvas murals (2 being 40 feet in length) of reclining nudes were salvaded during its demolition in 1983.
it was one of the last standing porn theaters in st. louis at the time of demolition.
courtesy of dave felling collection.
Scroll through this Public Facebook share of 38 demolition images from 1990 credit Dave Felling, courtesy Eric J. Nordstrom.
Copy and paste to open.
dave felling kodachrome slides of edward e. eichenbaum’s 3400-seat granada theater (1926), located at 6427-41 north sheridan road, chicago, il.
the cream-colored terra cotta facade was salvaged by dave felling of felling contracting, st. louis, mo. during its demolition in 1990 by the g.m. wrecking company, chicago, il.
the building’s exterior terra cotta ornament was fabricated by the middland terra cotta company. the interior polychromed and gold plaster ornament was made by the decorators supply company, chicago, il.
period images - including theater nearing completion in 1926 - courtesy of bld. 51 archive.
images courtesy of dave felling collection.
“The Rapids Theater originally opened as the Bellevue Movie Theater in 1921. The opulent movie and vaudeville house hosted many famous stage and screen performers in it’s day including the Three Stooges. The Bellevue was purchased by the Cataract-Strand Theater Corp. in 1961 and renamed the Rapids Theater. Eventually The Rapids Theater closed it’s doors until 2007 when it was purchased by local businessman John Hutchins. After extensive renovations The Rapids Theater reopened in 2009 as a concert and event venue. Included in Hutchins' purchase, free of charge, were the resident ghosts! It is believed by many that the old theater is haunted. As the story goes a jilted actress hung herself backstage after her lover left her for another woman. Witnesses over the years have spotted a ghostly female apparition roaming different parts of the theater especially the stage. Also the sound of high heels walking across the floor have been heard on numerous occasions. Doors have slammed without reason, unusual sounds have been heard and moving shadows have been seen. Ethereal voices, whistling sounds and footsteps have been heard in most areas of the building. An unworldly moving shadow has been seen in various locations of the building most often in the basement. In October 2011 The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated the claims of ghostly activity at The Rapids Theater for a special episode of Ghost Hunters on the SYFY Channel. Their investigation revealed whistles, unearthly voices, unexplained footsteps and slamming doors as well as a moving shadow that sent chills down the spines of the observers.”
Compiled history credit Max Eddy.
Located on Falls St. between Prospect St. and Riverway.
Opened circa 1903 as International Theatre.
Remodeled into Gorge Auditorium in 1926.
Demolished in 1962 and the area became the Falls St. exit of the Robert Moses Parkway, and part of the Niagara Falls State Park completed in 1964.
It had a vertical sign reading “Niagara’s Scenic Trip” at the time of demolition.
Photos added.
January 1977 print ad added. The 400 briefly ran XXX films.
Edward Lind opened the Lyric Theatre which was built in 1913. He still owned & operated it in 1918. Photos added.
A crowd of people gather outside the movie theater in Ripon, Wisconsin to welcome home Milwaukee native and Ripon College alumnus Spencer Tracy in celebration of his 1940 movie “Edison the Man”. Ripon College Archives, Ripon College.
Crisper version of 1978 image.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2151937638958648&set=gm.2682456928774383&idorvanity=413556385664460
Circa 1963 8MM film image credit Anthony D Diaz via Facebook
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5350/photos/477848
Thank you for the clarification. I posted it because it is slightly crisper that the previous version minus photo credit.
Muncie’s Rivoli Theatre is shown in the 1960s. Photo Provided By Ball State University Libraries Archives And Special Collections.
https://www.thestarpress.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/04/29/muncie-movie-theaters-years-past/3041352001/
The Liberty Theater Photo Provided By Ball State University Libraries Archives And Special Collections.
https://www.thestarpress.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/04/29/muncie-movie-theaters-years-past/3041352001/
The Wysor Grand Opera House is shown in this photo from the 1960s. Photo Provided By Ball State University Libraries Archives And Special Collections.
https://www.thestarpress.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/04/29/muncie-movie-theaters-years-past/3041352001/
Facebook album with multiple images and history/owners of the theatre from 1914 forward. One video in the description as well. Courtesy Alvaro L Guevara, Admin of Echo Park History.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1804292842990845&type=3
1948 photo credit University of Michigan Libraries.
Crisper version in the Old Ontario Series post on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1357468825733001&set=a.212723240207571
This was the Columbia Theatre at 108 E. 4th Street. Circa 1910 postcard image added credit Deb Mather Renner, courtesy Ritchie Miller. The building still stands today as Soul Book Nook using the 110 E. 4th Street address, a combination of the 106, 108 & 110 addresses shown on the Sanborn map.
Also added the Google street view, the building with the Surplus sign is the former Columbia Theatre.
Updated full history in link below. Copy & paste to open.
https://www.mdhistory.org/lost-city-the-regent-theater/
1955 photo credit Special Collections at the UTSA Libraries (MS 355: Z-1215-B).
Vandals cause $300K in damage to Kansas City’s historic Folly Theater. Copy & paste link below.
https://www.kctv5.com/2025/10/26/vandals-cause-300k-damage-kansas-citys-historic-folly-theater/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNrKgNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFicjhKeFBHNlJmWWxwZXl1AR50uxGZPaSrGo0qxSGXq4EuNP6mVzSxT3G7nZsX5iaud6XH0rUNeJZ1rPwyHg_aem__gI5M2xY1Ec4MR5boLtBPQ
Crisper version via Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=754199933893555&set=gm.24246913878253082&idorvanity=229023057135500
New owner from the Patio since March. New plans. Copy & paste or open in new Tab to view.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/24/historic-portage-theater-has-a-new-owner-who-plans-to-revive-it-as-a-community-space/
Slightly crisper version in this Facebook post.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1591592938473395&set=gm.786147617650948&idorvanity=287888670810181
Copy and paste link at bottom to scroll through for 24 demolition photos.
Description credit Urban Remains.
kodachrome images of charles k. ramsey’s caesar’s cafe (1896), located at 210 north 6th street, st. louis, mo. from 1915-1922 it was the known as the royal theater, then rivoli theater from 1922-1970, and finally towne theater until 1983, when it was demolished to make way for the metropolitan square building. the theater was altered in 1922 by the rivoli theater company with new facade (comprised of sgraffito concrete tiles and terra cotta), upgraded ventilation system, and additional seating. the majoirty of the facade and 8 interior hand-painted canvas murals (2 being 40 feet in length) of reclining nudes were salvaded during its demolition in 1983. it was one of the last standing porn theaters in st. louis at the time of demolition. courtesy of dave felling collection.
https://www.facebook.com/urbanremainschicago/posts/pfbid026yr1FD8JBABfh187DqAqAmay5syhVTcemkG8Yb3aSxQkdS21b4w67UgdMMCd4cnSl
Scroll through this Public Facebook share of 38 demolition images from 1990 credit Dave Felling, courtesy Eric J. Nordstrom. Copy and paste to open.
dave felling kodachrome slides of edward e. eichenbaum’s 3400-seat granada theater (1926), located at 6427-41 north sheridan road, chicago, il. the cream-colored terra cotta facade was salvaged by dave felling of felling contracting, st. louis, mo. during its demolition in 1990 by the g.m. wrecking company, chicago, il. the building’s exterior terra cotta ornament was fabricated by the middland terra cotta company. the interior polychromed and gold plaster ornament was made by the decorators supply company, chicago, il. period images - including theater nearing completion in 1926 - courtesy of bld. 51 archive. images courtesy of dave felling collection.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=32391913537059564&set=pcb.32391919770392274
Update: 1966 photo credit Robert Schneider.
Additional history credit Max Eddy:
“The Rapids Theater originally opened as the Bellevue Movie Theater in 1921. The opulent movie and vaudeville house hosted many famous stage and screen performers in it’s day including the Three Stooges. The Bellevue was purchased by the Cataract-Strand Theater Corp. in 1961 and renamed the Rapids Theater. Eventually The Rapids Theater closed it’s doors until 2007 when it was purchased by local businessman John Hutchins. After extensive renovations The Rapids Theater reopened in 2009 as a concert and event venue. Included in Hutchins' purchase, free of charge, were the resident ghosts! It is believed by many that the old theater is haunted. As the story goes a jilted actress hung herself backstage after her lover left her for another woman. Witnesses over the years have spotted a ghostly female apparition roaming different parts of the theater especially the stage. Also the sound of high heels walking across the floor have been heard on numerous occasions. Doors have slammed without reason, unusual sounds have been heard and moving shadows have been seen. Ethereal voices, whistling sounds and footsteps have been heard in most areas of the building. An unworldly moving shadow has been seen in various locations of the building most often in the basement. In October 2011 The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated the claims of ghostly activity at The Rapids Theater for a special episode of Ghost Hunters on the SYFY Channel. Their investigation revealed whistles, unearthly voices, unexplained footsteps and slamming doors as well as a moving shadow that sent chills down the spines of the observers.”
Compiled history credit Max Eddy. Located on Falls St. between Prospect St. and Riverway. Opened circa 1903 as International Theatre. Remodeled into Gorge Auditorium in 1926. Demolished in 1962 and the area became the Falls St. exit of the Robert Moses Parkway, and part of the Niagara Falls State Park completed in 1964. It had a vertical sign reading “Niagara’s Scenic Trip” at the time of demolition. Photos added.
Photo courtesy of the Niagara Falls Public Library Local History Dept. Niagara Falls NY.