Crystal Theatre
215 E. Second Avenue,
Flandreau,
SD
57028
215 E. Second Avenue,
Flandreau,
SD
57028
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This web page from South Dakota Public Broadcasting says the Crystal Theatre opened on January 15, 1914. An estimated 1,000 people attended the three showings of the movie program presented at that event. The Crystal was built and operated by Purl R. Matson, a farmer from Fairmont, Minnesota who also ran a theater in that town. Members of the Matson family ran the Crystal until the mid-1950s.
The theater finally fell dark in the 1980s. In 1988 a community group was formed to preserve and restore the theater, and after much work to renovate the house it began presenting a variety of events in 1997. In 2009 a severe derecho did extensive damage, destroying much of the roof and soaking the exposed areas with rain, but repairs were made and operations began again. Improvements to the facility are ongoing, and the Crystal Theatre remains popular, enjoying strong support from the local community.
Seems 1914 is probably a good date. My pictures from Labor Day 2014 show the theater celebrating 100 years.
Built sometime between 1911 and 1917, likely after 1914-15, as Flandreau does not appear in the AMPD.
Fire in 1921:
The next bout with fire in the community was not nearly as costly. However, it claimed a sizable amount of merchandise Feb. 16, 1913.
About $8,000 in merchandise and fixtures burned at Rolfe’s Drug store after flames shot out of a furnace in the rear of the store about 10 a.m. The loss was not total.
A 2:30 a.m. discovery of smoke brought firemen to the R. L. Brown Hardware Store March 1, 1916. However, before the fire fighters could quell the blaze $12,000 in stock and the building were gone. Tile structure was one of the early ones in Flandreau and was a landmark. The Bidne-Brown Building in the main business district stands on the site now.
Another early morning blaze engulfed tile Bland Meat Market May 22, 1921. Defective wiring was listed as the probable cause for $9,000 in damage beginning about 3:30 a.m.
The interior furnishings and equipment at the Crystal Theatre received damage to the tune of $6,000 in Nov. No cause was ever established for the fire, which was noticed about 6 O'clock in the evening but it was believed to have been the result of a furnace.