Sun Theatre
404 10th Street,
Gothenburg,
NE
69138
404 10th Street,
Gothenburg,
NE
69138
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Related Websites
Sun Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Victor F. Beck
Functions: Live Performances, Movies (First Run)
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Opera House
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
308.537.3235
Manager:
308.537.3235
Nearby Theaters
Built as the Gothenburg Opera House and opening on June 4, 1909 with the play “Valley Farm”. From June 12, 1909 films were being screened. It became the Sun Theatre, a movie theatre, on November 23, 1917. From 1923 to 1927 it was owned by the city and renamed Community House. On February 5, 1927 under new ownership it returned to movies as the Sun Theatre. Seating was provided for 350. It was closed on December 31, 1981.
It was taken over by the Gothenburg Community Playhouse in 1983, presenting movies and live shows. In 2020 it underwent a restoration.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
From Gothenburg photos of the Sun Theater Here and Here taken in 2010.
Not only open, but in wonderful repair, fresh paint and a snazzy marquee. Nice!
Official website at http://www.gothenburgsun.com/
Many updates at the Sun Theatre in the past few years. Digital projector with 7.1 Dolby surround sound, ultra-bright screen, all new curtains & acoustical wall curtains, refinished wood floors, new carpet & comfortable new seats(260). Also have live stage productions several times a year.
The Sun Theatre was listed as open in 1931 with 400 seats and now seats 260.
The “History” page of the Sun Theatre’s official web site says the theater was built as an opera house in 1909 and became a movie house in 1926. However, there is this item from the December 27, 1917, issue of Exhibitors Herald:
That 1917 is when the Opera House was converted into a movie theater called the Sun is confirmed by this notice from the July 21, 1917, issue of The American Contractor:Opened November 24th, 1917
Updated an image from 1937.
This history of Gothenburg’s theaters from the Gothenburg Leader says that from 1923 to 1927, this theater was owned by the city and was called the Community House.
A new lessee, Glen Van Wey, restored the name Sun Theatre and reopened the house as a movie theater on February 5, 1927. The city sold the building to Van Wey in 1938. It wasn’t until an extensive remodeling in 1948 that the flat main floor was removed and replaced with a sloped floor. The Van Wey family managed to keep the Sun open until December 31, 1981. The Gothemburg Community Playhouse then began a fund raising drive and were able to purchase the theater in 1983. Since then the non-profit organization has presented movies at least 48 weekends a year (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays), and live events at other times.
From May through September, 2020, the Sun Theatre was closed for a $400,000 dollar renovation project, focused primarily on the front of the house. The Sun now boasts new, accessible rest rooms, and accessible seating in the auditorium. Total seating capacity is now 240.