It seems that this replaced an earlier Dixie/Opera House of 100 seats. It may have been listed in the 1930 Yearbook as the Trickett, which was wired for sound.
According to information on a Flickr photo from 2016, this served as the community center before the new one was built across the street, and was used as a theater, run by volunteers. Not sure how accurate that is.
This had to have been in the Township Hall, which was built by the WPA in 1936. Address is 501 Main St. Probably didn’t last long, considering the town peaked at around 250. Not listed in the Yearbooks I checked (1948, ‘49, '51).
SethG
commented about
Theateron
Mar 17, 2026 at 8:19 am
It’s also possible that this may have been the Novelty Theatre, which is listed in the AMPD with an impossible 1317 address, which would have put it on the courthouse lawn.
This address is impossible. The ‘even’ side of 4th is the town square park. The Odd Fellows was at 105. It was a two story brick building. A market and grocery appears on the 1908 map, and the 1914 map shows furniture and stoves. The current structure is a replacement. The only surviving piece of the old building is the stone tablet on the facade. Status should be demolished.
This theater was located in the Richland Block, a large and ornate three story brick commercial block with metal bay windows. It was built sometime between August 1886 and November 1887, since it only appears on the later map. In 1931, the western half of the building was demolished to construct a large Montgomery Ward on the corner. That is apparently still there under a criminally ugly ‘70s remodel. The rest of the building, comprising 409 and 411, was still there in 1950, but was likely demolished by the '70s.
Taken before 1931, when the building on the corner was demolished to be replaced by a Montgomery Ward. The three story building between that and the theater is the Richland Block, which was briefly home to the early Elite theater.
As can be seen from the photo, the building was an old three story brick commercial building with bay windows. It was constructed in 1887, and was originally the Packers' Hotel, later the Topeka Avenue Hotel. A hotel operated here through at least 1950, but this building was lost at some point thereafter. The 1903 map shows that the conversion of the ground floor to the Pastime hadn’t taken place yet.
Considering this theater had a balcony, the capacity seems very small. We should change the photo to one actually of the theater, rather than a very blurry newspaper.
The address seems to be 7 on the 1929 map. The 1912 map shows the building as a furniture store with a lodge hall on the 3rd floor. It was likely quite old, possibly 1860s or ‘70s.
Not demolished, or not completely. The top floor of the building, which was constructed sometime between 1903 and 1914, was removed at some point, but the ground floor is very obviously the same. It is now a brewery and pizzeria.
As was pointed out long ago, the name is wrong. The architects for the auditorium addition were Overend, Boucher, and Schmidt. Nothing the least bit Spanish about it. The exterior is a very plain art deco, and the interior is rather old fashioned in comparison. Looks like your typical 1920s school or municipal auditorium. Seating is also wrong. As of the 2006 NRHP nomination, it was 700, with 250 of that being in the balcony. The last activity on their FB page is from 2018.
Apparently, most of the listing is wrong. The Novelty is listed through 1956 with 300 seats. I don’t know when, or even if, it became the Corral. The site is now a parking lot, and the building was probably demolished sometime in the ‘60s or '70s.
The building was built as a drug store sometime between 1912 and 1917. Still retail in 1985. I assume the theater is fairly recent.
Status needs to be corrected. This was demolished sometime around 1945 and replaced by a Neisner’s department store. That building is still there.
The address is right on the front of the building.
It seems that this replaced an earlier Dixie/Opera House of 100 seats. It may have been listed in the 1930 Yearbook as the Trickett, which was wired for sound.
According to information on a Flickr photo from 2016, this served as the community center before the new one was built across the street, and was used as a theater, run by volunteers. Not sure how accurate that is.
This had to have been in the Township Hall, which was built by the WPA in 1936. Address is 501 Main St. Probably didn’t last long, considering the town peaked at around 250. Not listed in the Yearbooks I checked (1948, ‘49, '51).
It’s also possible that this may have been the Novelty Theatre, which is listed in the AMPD with an impossible 1317 address, which would have put it on the courthouse lawn.
Possibly earlier known as the Dickinson or Plaza, both of which are listed in the 1936 Yearbook.
The 1914 map shows this building as a fruit stand. It’s now a flea market. The history should be updated with Joe’s information.
History and aka needs an update per Joe’s information. This is now a coffee shop.
Probably on the SW corner, where the ugly bank is.
This address is impossible. The ‘even’ side of 4th is the town square park. The Odd Fellows was at 105. It was a two story brick building. A market and grocery appears on the 1908 map, and the 1914 map shows furniture and stoves. The current structure is a replacement. The only surviving piece of the old building is the stone tablet on the facade. Status should be demolished.
Address was 103 E 4th Ave. Now the site of an office in a building which might be from about 1920.
This theater was located in the Richland Block, a large and ornate three story brick commercial block with metal bay windows. It was built sometime between August 1886 and November 1887, since it only appears on the later map. In 1931, the western half of the building was demolished to construct a large Montgomery Ward on the corner. That is apparently still there under a criminally ugly ‘70s remodel. The rest of the building, comprising 409 and 411, was still there in 1950, but was likely demolished by the '70s.
Taken before 1931, when the building on the corner was demolished to be replaced by a Montgomery Ward. The three story building between that and the theater is the Richland Block, which was briefly home to the early Elite theater.
As can be seen from the photo, the building was an old three story brick commercial building with bay windows. It was constructed in 1887, and was originally the Packers' Hotel, later the Topeka Avenue Hotel. A hotel operated here through at least 1950, but this building was lost at some point thereafter. The 1903 map shows that the conversion of the ground floor to the Pastime hadn’t taken place yet.
Considering this theater had a balcony, the capacity seems very small. We should change the photo to one actually of the theater, rather than a very blurry newspaper.
The address is wrong. It was 120-122.
The address seems to be 7 on the 1929 map. The 1912 map shows the building as a furniture store with a lodge hall on the 3rd floor. It was likely quite old, possibly 1860s or ‘70s.
The capacity began at 325, but by 1936 it was listed at 450, and by 1951 it had increased again to 500.
Not demolished, or not completely. The top floor of the building, which was constructed sometime between 1903 and 1914, was removed at some point, but the ground floor is very obviously the same. It is now a brewery and pizzeria.
As was pointed out long ago, the name is wrong. The architects for the auditorium addition were Overend, Boucher, and Schmidt. Nothing the least bit Spanish about it. The exterior is a very plain art deco, and the interior is rather old fashioned in comparison. Looks like your typical 1920s school or municipal auditorium. Seating is also wrong. As of the 2006 NRHP nomination, it was 700, with 250 of that being in the balcony. The last activity on their FB page is from 2018.
Butchered into a horrendous stucco box, used as the VFW.
The building itself was a three story stone front constructed in 1887.
Apparently, most of the listing is wrong. The Novelty is listed through 1956 with 300 seats. I don’t know when, or even if, it became the Corral. The site is now a parking lot, and the building was probably demolished sometime in the ‘60s or '70s.
As has been pointed out, the reference to the Yale is wrong. That was a different theater.