Plaza Theatre
518 N. Main Street,
Oshkosh,
WI
54901
518 N. Main Street,
Oshkosh,
WI
54901
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Marcus Theatres, Paramount Pictures Inc., Standard Theaters Management Corp.
Firms: Charles J. Keller & Son
Functions: Housing
Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Renaissance
Previous Names: Fischer's Theatre, Strand Theatre, Raulf Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Fischer’s Theatre was opened on November 23, 1927 with the world premiere of “On Your Toes” starring Reginald Denny. It was built and operated by Fisher-Paramount Theatres. ‘Singing’ organist Harry Wagner played the Barton 3 manual 11 ranks organ. On June 13, 1929 it was renamed Strand Theatre and was later taken over by Standard Theaters Management Corp. It was renamed Raulf Theatre in December 1952 under Marcus Theatres, and was finally renamed Plaza Theatre in 1968. It was closed in late-May 1979
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
7-page Grand opening ad as Fischer from November 23rd, 1927 can been seen at http://en.calameo.com/books/000247928b6caf6f14f30
December 24th, 1952 ad (ad Raulf) is at View link
1968 plaza theatre logo is at View link
The grand opening ad Mike Rivest linked to says that the Fischer Theatre was designed by the Milwaukee architectural firm Chas. J. Keller & Son.
Frank W. Fischer’s circuit was a regional affiliate of Paramount Pictures, Fischer-Paramount Theatres.
The style of the theater was Spanish-Atmospheric.
We need to find a modern address for the Plaza Theatre. Oshkosh renumbered the lots on Main Street in 1957, and the former 200 block became the modern 500 block. The address of The Magnet, a billiard parlor across the street from the former entrance of The Plaza, is 519 N. Main. The address of Mainview Apartments, which appears the be the former entrance to the Raulf Hotel, is 530 N. Main. I would guess that the theater entrance, which was at the south end of the hotel’s frontage, was approximately at modern address 518 N. Main.
Street View needs to be reset, too. It currently shows the Time Theatre, in the modern 400 block of Main Street.
A website on downtown Oshkosh states that is became the Strand in 1930,Raulf 1953 and Plaza 1968 and was demolished in 1979.The site is now occupied by Mainview Apartments.
I don’t think the auditorium building was actually demolished. It appears to have been gutted and filled with floors, and windows were punched in the side walls. If you move Street View three clicks south, you can see the side of the building across the parking lot. Even the stage house is still standing.
The June 13th, 1929 grand opening ad as Strand can be found in the photo section for this cinema.
November 23rd, 1927 (Fischer), June 13th, 1929 (Strand), December 24th, 1952 (Raulf), March 27th, 1968 (Plaza) grand opening ads can be found in the photo section for this cinema.
Found on Newspapers.com
Closed in late May 1979.