Rosa Theater

218 S. Main Street,
Waupaca, WI 54981

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 28, 2024 at 11:37 am

A belated answer to Leslie: The December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World mentions a theater at Waupaca called the Lyric. Its manager, Charles Cohen, had recently bought the building in which the theater was located and planned to remodel and expand the seating capacity to 400. There could have been earlier theaters. While it may be of note that Waupaca was not listed in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, the Lyric at least was in operation by 1917.

LeslieMidkiffDeBauche
LeslieMidkiffDeBauche on January 9, 2019 at 10:02 am

Hi, Does anyone know if there were movies theaters, or other venues where movies were shown in Waupaca prior to the opening of the Palace Theater in 1920? Thank you, Leslie

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 15, 2017 at 7:21 am

Flickr photo of the Rosa marquee illuminated at night.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/70267096@N00/3575038232/

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 15, 2017 at 7:17 am

The below link has for sale a book called “Showstopper” (Adler family and Waupaca theatres) $9.95

http://www.waupacahistoricalsociety.org/items-for-sale.html

jdalles
jdalles on July 2, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Former Owner: Otto Settele

SETTELE, OTTO DEATH MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD JAN 13, 1997 p.7A col.4
Notes: age 83/of merrill/died-st joseph’s hosp-city

wimovies
wimovies on April 20, 2008 at 8:05 pm

This is one of the theatres that was owned by Otto Setelle. I’m pretty sure I spelled his last name wrong. I met him in the late 90’s and he died a short time after that. Paul Rogers bought that theatre, which was a twin and added additional screens, and did some remodeling. At the time I met Otto he was a true showman. He had pictures of himself and movie stars located in the theatre. I think he was even wearing a tuxedo when I met him. I haven’t been in the theatre since Rogers bought it, but when Otto had it I thought it was a great old theatre. The marquee is particularly amazing at night.

edwilke
edwilke on December 7, 2007 at 5:09 pm

My photos of the Rosa Theater can be seen at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwilke/

edwilke
edwilke on April 25, 2007 at 7:14 pm

The Rosa Theater was built by John P. Adler owner of Adler Theater Company of Marshfield Wisconsin. The theater was named after his wife Rosamond.

Construction started in 1946 but was stopped because of legal restrictions and there was an error in the boundary lines.

The Grand Opening of the Rosa Theater was on July 31, 1948. (I have one of the souvenir programs given out at the Grand Opening of the Rosa Theater.)

It was originally a single screen with a seating capacity of 554.