Dorothy Theater

Joe Vogel on April 1, 2017 at 3:30 pm

There was a house called the Dorothy Theatre in Henrietta prior to 1920. Operated by H. L. Bear and named for his daughter Dorothy, the theater was mentioned in the January 3, 1920, issue of Exhibitors Herald. The item said that Mr. Bear had purchased a lot adjoining the Dorothy and planned to build a 350-sea theater on it. The Dorothy was to be remodeled in the spring.

Mr. Bear’s plans for a new theater were apparently delayed, as they were announced again in the 1921-1922 edition of Wid’s Year Book, which was published in September, 1921. I’m not sure the plans were ever carried out.

Bear did eventually open a second house, though, as an item in the “Theatre Deals” column of the November 21, 1945, issue of The Film Daily said that he had sold the Dorothy Theatre and the old Ritz Theatre building. No location was given for the Ritz. The item said that he had operated the Dorothy for thirty years, which would give an opening year of about 1915.

Numerous sources indicate that the Dorothy was located on the east side of the Courthouse square. It was still in operation at least as late as 1966.