Garden Theater

graymatters on April 18, 2021 at 12:42 pm

The Garden Theater, at 301 Main Street in Frankfort, opened in August 1924. My Uncle Albert S. Johnson Jr.’s theater job list shows this as a 1947 remodeling project by his father Al’s Johnson Construction Company.

The “art moderne” style of the Garden Theater is consistent with a 1947 remodel. Current images of the theater, which remains in use, show three pairs of green doors with matched half-octagonal glass panes. These are the same patented “Johnson doors” used in several of Al Johnson’s other theater projects of the era.

Unfortunately, my grandfather Al Johnson Sr. left behind no Kodachrome slides of this theater project for us to enjoy today.

Joe Vogel on November 13, 2009 at 12:13 am

An interesting item form the October 7, 1974, issue of Boxoffice:

“Mr. and Mrs. Neil Haugen are interested in obtaining any information, pictures, or material anyone might have on the Garden Theatre, Frankfort. The house opened in 1923 as the Victoria Theatre. The Haugens wish to compile a history of the theatre and desire more background material than they presently have.”

The Garden Theatre’s web site has a history pagewhich also gives 1923 as the opening date, but doesn’t mention the aka. In fact, most of the history on the history page dates from 2008.

The earliest mention of the Garden I’ve found in Boxoffice is in the June 10, 1939, issue which said the Mrs. Custer C. Carland was remodeling the house. A September 14, 1940, item said that the Garden had been acquired by the Ashmun Theatres circuit.

The Garden got another remodeling in 1947, reported in the May 17 issue of Boxoffice. There were to be 700 new seats, a new marquee, a porcelain sign, new flooring and carpeting, new concessions stand, redecorating, and some structural alterations including moving the box office.

cwdean on April 12, 2008 at 12:55 am

I think it may shut down in the winter off-season, but will inquire.