Sun Theater

kencmcintyre on December 13, 2006 at 5:50 pm

Here is an article from the St. Joseph Herald Press dated 3/6/52:

Fire Destroys Bangor Theater

Fire believed to have started in the heating and ventilation system yesterday afternoon destroyed the Sun Theater here with a loss estimated at $35,000 to $40,000. Effective action by volunteer Bangor firemen, aided for a time by South Haven firemen, prevented the roaring blaze from spreading to buildings immediately adjacent on either side.

The theater, owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Eisner of Bangor, was this village’s only movie house. Mr. and Mrs. Eisner were en route to Florida when the blaze occurred. They were recalled from Elkhart, Ind., by a state police message. Their loss was reported substan-
tially covered by insurance.

This morning, only the front wall and propped-up marquee of the building were still standing. Everything inside, including furniture and a new load of films, was in ruins. The loss was described as complete. The shell of the building was still standing, however, except for part of the west wall that fell after the roof caved. The theater’s location is on the north side of Bangor’s main street, 118 Monroe.

Some damage occurred to the roofs of the adjoining buildings from flying sparks, but Mr. and Mrs. Russell Smith, owners of the Bangor Wood shop, praised firemen for holding the damage to a minimum.

kencmcintyre on April 10, 2009 at 1:18 pm

Here is an item from the Herald Press dated 11/18/49:

BANGOR, NOV. 18â€"The Sun Theater here has been sold by Gus E. Eisner to his brother, John Eisner, formerly of Berrien Springs, it was announced today. John Eisner previously operated the Berry Theater at Berrien Springs. He sold the theater there some five or six weeks ago and recently moved to Mishawaka, Indiana.

Gus Eisner has operated the Sun Theater here for several years. He and another brother, Walter Eisner of Benton Harbor, are proprietors of the Starlite outdoor theater at Benton Harbor.