A couple of items for the record: the architecture is Gothic, a rather rare style amongst movie palaces; and the theatre had already been renamed the Uptown in the 1940s, long before its closure near New Years Day of 1959. Its manager then was a Mr. Gross or Groce, and at the Uptown’s closure he was immediately appointed to manage the Kenosha Theatre in Kenosha and when the Kenosha closed on April 21, 1963 he took over the Lake Theatre (formerly the Gateway, now the Rhode Opera House) three blocks north, all Standard Theatres chain houses.
There was a Preservation Racine tour of the Uptown in the fall of 1981 and restoration talk was flowing even then. Around that time some rock concerts were held in the auditorium, but patrons had to use a rear exit door as the lobbies were then occupied by the Avenue Frame Shop. That, by the way, was a longtime business (gone now) that attracted many “customers” who ostensibly were interested in picture-framing but who were actually there as curiosity-seekers to see what they could of the vestibules and lobbies.
Please check into the Roosevelt Theatre in Kenosha WI, which has just come up for sale through Bear Realty www.bearrealty.com (262) 694-2327. There are flanking storefronts and upper floors to provide extra income. The street is busy, and is WI Highway 50. Thanks!
I recall that there were a few unconnected voices of preservation raised in the mid-1970s, terming the closed and endangered Venetian a landmark though it never was officially designated as such.
But the local daily newspaper (the Journal Times) demanded its demolition in editorials and denounced the Venetian’s value as a landmark, showing as its “proof” of that denial a photo of the plain brick stagehouse at the rear of the theatre.
After demolition, the land was vacant for a quarter of a century.
The Roosevelt Theatre Building with its attached storefronts and second-floor offices and parking lots is now totally vacant and for sale through Bear Realty of Kenosha WI. Roosevelt Road itself was recently streetscaped, resurfaced and upgraded to Wisconsin Highway 50. The City is installing a large parking lot next door.
It was originally the Butterfly Theatre (named for its distinctive butterfly-winged ornamentation flanking the proscenium), and was built by the Klinkert Brewery of Racine during Prohibition and operated by local exhibitor Michael Lencioni. It was renamed ‘Hollywood Theatre’ in the 1930s. The final double-feature film program at the Hollywood Theatre was on the night of April 30, 1952. Thereafter the theatre was vacant for a time and was then rented for church services. It was still intact until 1960, when the local Polish Legion of American Veterans post acquired the Hollywood, leveled the floor and walls, and hung a false ceiling, which still remains above it. The Hollywood’s two-manual pipe organ is now in the B'nai Brith Temple in Library Park downtown.
The Vogue Theatre opened in September 1923 and was operated by local barkeep Walter Schlager. It hosted second-run films and live acts into the 1930s. A random search turned up an appearance by Patsy Montana. There was a two-manual Wicks organ. Local exhibitor Bill Exton (who also operated the Roosevelt and Hollywood Theaters) leased the Vogue, which was part of Milwaukee’s Standard Theatres chain in the 1940s. The last regular double-feature program there was on the night of Monday, December 15, 1951, with the outside temperature at fifteen below zero.
A couple of items for the record: the architecture is Gothic, a rather rare style amongst movie palaces; and the theatre had already been renamed the Uptown in the 1940s, long before its closure near New Years Day of 1959. Its manager then was a Mr. Gross or Groce, and at the Uptown’s closure he was immediately appointed to manage the Kenosha Theatre in Kenosha and when the Kenosha closed on April 21, 1963 he took over the Lake Theatre (formerly the Gateway, now the Rhode Opera House) three blocks north, all Standard Theatres chain houses.
There was a Preservation Racine tour of the Uptown in the fall of 1981 and restoration talk was flowing even then. Around that time some rock concerts were held in the auditorium, but patrons had to use a rear exit door as the lobbies were then occupied by the Avenue Frame Shop. That, by the way, was a longtime business (gone now) that attracted many “customers” who ostensibly were interested in picture-framing but who were actually there as curiosity-seekers to see what they could of the vestibules and lobbies.
The Capitol’s organ was relocated to a newer minimalist-styled playhouse built by a local amateur live-theater group on Northwestern Avenue.
That’s correct; it was indeed the Bharat Cinema by June of 1977, and before that it was the Roberto Clemente Theatre. Thanks.
Please check into the Roosevelt Theatre in Kenosha WI, which has just come up for sale through Bear Realty www.bearrealty.com (262) 694-2327. There are flanking storefronts and upper floors to provide extra income. The street is busy, and is WI Highway 50. Thanks!
I recall that there were a few unconnected voices of preservation raised in the mid-1970s, terming the closed and endangered Venetian a landmark though it never was officially designated as such.
But the local daily newspaper (the Journal Times) demanded its demolition in editorials and denounced the Venetian’s value as a landmark, showing as its “proof” of that denial a photo of the plain brick stagehouse at the rear of the theatre.
After demolition, the land was vacant for a quarter of a century.
The Roosevelt Theatre Building with its attached storefronts and second-floor offices and parking lots is now totally vacant and for sale through Bear Realty of Kenosha WI. Roosevelt Road itself was recently streetscaped, resurfaced and upgraded to Wisconsin Highway 50. The City is installing a large parking lot next door.
It was originally the Butterfly Theatre (named for its distinctive butterfly-winged ornamentation flanking the proscenium), and was built by the Klinkert Brewery of Racine during Prohibition and operated by local exhibitor Michael Lencioni. It was renamed ‘Hollywood Theatre’ in the 1930s. The final double-feature film program at the Hollywood Theatre was on the night of April 30, 1952. Thereafter the theatre was vacant for a time and was then rented for church services. It was still intact until 1960, when the local Polish Legion of American Veterans post acquired the Hollywood, leveled the floor and walls, and hung a false ceiling, which still remains above it. The Hollywood’s two-manual pipe organ is now in the B'nai Brith Temple in Library Park downtown.
The Vogue Theatre opened in September 1923 and was operated by local barkeep Walter Schlager. It hosted second-run films and live acts into the 1930s. A random search turned up an appearance by Patsy Montana. There was a two-manual Wicks organ. Local exhibitor Bill Exton (who also operated the Roosevelt and Hollywood Theaters) leased the Vogue, which was part of Milwaukee’s Standard Theatres chain in the 1940s. The last regular double-feature program there was on the night of Monday, December 15, 1951, with the outside temperature at fifteen below zero.