I finally sorted out this confusing situation. The Winona Opera House changed its name to the State Theatre in December 1925. The Apollo Theatre opened on January 15, 1926. By September of 1926, the Apollo had changed its name to the State Theatre and the (old) State became the (new) Winona Theatre.
The Opera House changed name to the State Theatre in December 1925. The Apollo Theatre took the State Theatre name and this theater was named the Winona Theatre in September 1926.
Thanks for all the info added for this one in the past few days. The exact closing date of May 31, 1957 and the exact re-opening date of October 9, 1968 (as the Cinema) should be noted above. Also, I think we’ve firmly established that the State opened in 1926, not 1930. Sorry to be a pain, but I’m a stickler for the facts.
Thanks for adding the closing date info. However, the opening date info should also be corrected. The Avon opened on May 24, 1935, it was never actually named the Rex, although it may have been planned at one time. Just wanna get all the info correct.
The Avon closed for good on January 9, 1956. The building and the one right next to it were converted into a Woolworth’s store which opened on July 19, 1956. I used to go to that Woolworth’s a lot when I was a kid in the 1970s.
Just a little clarification. The West End opened on January 16, 1921. It was started by the Colonial Amusement Company. I agree that any remodeling was probably pretty minor.
Joe: Thanks for the detailed info. I’m still digging into the whole Apollo/State situation. I’m also looking into the Colonial sitaution and will post any concrete info I can find.
As I stated before, the Opera House did show movies as early as 1915 (I found an ad for “Birth Of A Nation”). After it became the Winona Theater, they did continue to stage plays in addition to showing movies. I attended some plays there as late as the 1970s.
I’ve seen movie listings for BOTH the State and the Apollo People’s Theater from the same days in 1926, so I think the Apollo might’ve been a different building. I’ve also seen movie listings from 1926 for a theater in Winona called the Strand.
I’m doing some research on all of the old movie theaters in Winona. I did find another one called the Broadway Theater, which was located at 724 E. Broadway Street, which is a little bit east of downtown Winona. I found movie listings there as late as 1941. I also learned that after being closed for several years, it re-opened as a grocery store in the summer of 1955 (as the Broadway Super Saver). There was a small fire there in 1967, but I believe the building is still standing. I’ll share anymore information I can find, but the Broadway should be listed.
Your closing dates are incorrect. Both the Winona and the State theaters were open at least until the late 1970s. I saw several movies at both as a kid in the 1970s.
Your closing dates are incorrect. Both the Winona and the State stayed open at least until the late 1970s. I saw several movies there as a kid in the 1970s.
The original West End Theater closed around 1958. In the fall of 1968 it re-opened as “Cinema” and stayed open through the 1970s. Both were at the 685 W. 5th St. location, which was actually a bit west of downtown Winona. I saw several movies there in the 1970s.
I finally sorted out this confusing situation. The Winona Opera House changed its name to the State Theatre in December 1925. The Apollo Theatre opened on January 15, 1926. By September of 1926, the Apollo had changed its name to the State Theatre and the (old) State became the (new) Winona Theatre.
The Opera House changed name to the State Theatre in December 1925. The Apollo Theatre took the State Theatre name and this theater was named the Winona Theatre in September 1926.
Joe: The Princess opened on November 22, 1909. I’ve just submitted it and hopefully will be posted soon.
Thanks for all the info added for this one in the past few days. The exact closing date of May 31, 1957 and the exact re-opening date of October 9, 1968 (as the Cinema) should be noted above. Also, I think we’ve firmly established that the State opened in 1926, not 1930. Sorry to be a pain, but I’m a stickler for the facts.
Thanks for adding the closing date info. However, the opening date info should also be corrected. The Avon opened on May 24, 1935, it was never actually named the Rex, although it may have been planned at one time. Just wanna get all the info correct.
The Avon closed for good on January 9, 1956. The building and the one right next to it were converted into a Woolworth’s store which opened on July 19, 1956. I used to go to that Woolworth’s a lot when I was a kid in the 1970s.
Just a little clarification. The West End opened on January 16, 1921. It was started by the Colonial Amusement Company. I agree that any remodeling was probably pretty minor.
Joe: Thanks for the detailed info. I’m still digging into the whole Apollo/State situation. I’m also looking into the Colonial sitaution and will post any concrete info I can find.
As I stated before, the Opera House did show movies as early as 1915 (I found an ad for “Birth Of A Nation”). After it became the Winona Theater, they did continue to stage plays in addition to showing movies. I attended some plays there as late as the 1970s.
The Winona Opera House opened on Monday, December 5, 1892. The first play presented that night was “By Proxy”.
I’ve found ads from as early as 1915 that show the Winona Opera House showing movies (in addition to the usual live musicals and vaudeville shows).
I’ve seen movie listings for BOTH the State and the Apollo People’s Theater from the same days in 1926, so I think the Apollo might’ve been a different building. I’ve also seen movie listings from 1926 for a theater in Winona called the Strand.
According to my research, the West End Theatre closed on May 31, 1957. It re-opened as the Cinema on October 9, 1968.
This theater opened as the Avon on Friday, May 24, 1935 (see posted ad). I can find no evidence of it ever being called the Rex.
I’ve just added a photo of the ad for the opening of the West End Theatre on January 16, 1921.
The Winona Opera House was built in 1892. I’ve found movie listings as early as 1926. The building was demolished in 1990.
I’ve found movie listings for the State Theater as early as 1926. The building was demolished in 1999 to make room for a parking lot.
I’m doing some research on all of the old movie theaters in Winona. I did find another one called the Broadway Theater, which was located at 724 E. Broadway Street, which is a little bit east of downtown Winona. I found movie listings there as late as 1941. I also learned that after being closed for several years, it re-opened as a grocery store in the summer of 1955 (as the Broadway Super Saver). There was a small fire there in 1967, but I believe the building is still standing. I’ll share anymore information I can find, but the Broadway should be listed.
Your closing dates are incorrect. Both the Winona and the State theaters were open at least until the late 1970s. I saw several movies at both as a kid in the 1970s.
Your closing dates are incorrect. Both the Winona and the State stayed open at least until the late 1970s. I saw several movies there as a kid in the 1970s.
The original West End Theater closed around 1958. In the fall of 1968 it re-opened as “Cinema” and stayed open through the 1970s. Both were at the 685 W. 5th St. location, which was actually a bit west of downtown Winona. I saw several movies there in the 1970s.