Comet Theatre
3224 W. North Street,
Milwaukee,
WI
53208
3224 W. North Street,
Milwaukee,
WI
53208
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Theater Cleared When Fire Starts - Milwaukee, Dec. 7, 1942 - Using deception, the manager of the Comet Theater cleared the theater in two minutes when fire threatened the building. The manager of the theater is Albert J. Honthaner. It was 9.45 P. M. when he smelled smoke. Investigating, he discovered that fire had started in the basement and was sweeping up. He hurried to Arthur Gray, projection man, and cried: “Shut off the machine! We’ve got a fire.” Then, at Honthaner’s orders, Roy Haack, assistant manager, stepped onto the stage and said quietly: “Our projection machine has broken down. The show is over for tonight. Please step out and you may have your admission refunded.” The 300 patrons, many of them grumbling, walked out. When they got to the lobby they saw flames and smoke. Then they knew why they had been hustled out. Some broke into grins of relief. None of them remembered to ask for their money.
300 Patrons Walk Out Safely In Milwaukee Theater Blaze (Dec. 5, 1942) - MILWAUKEE - Three hundred persons escaped injury Friday night when fire caused an estimated $5,000 damage at the Comet theater, 3324 W. North avenue. The fire, a second alarm, was discovered by the theater manager, Albert Hothaner, when smoke shot up the stairs from a basement washroom. Hothaner sent an assistant to the stage to inform the 300 patrons the projection equipment had broken down and ask them to leave. Fire Chief Peter Steinkellner, who answered the second alarm personally, praised Hothaner’s actions. He said only a few patrons were aware the building was on fire until they were outside. Steinkellner and Deputy Chief Charles Tremains assessed the damage at about $5,000. Fifteen pieces of fire apparatus answered the alarms. The feature picture was one starring the late Charles (Buck) Jones, who lost his life in the fire which destroyed a Boston night club Saturday.
I grew up on 34th & Garfield. My mom and I always walked down to the Comet, on the corner of 34th & North. On the corner of 33rd & North was the Tivoli Theatre. The Comet snack bar had a big juke box, and the bobby soxers would be jitter bugging to the music. The Comet and Tivoili handed out dishes to each lady (or girl). I think admission was 25 cents for adults, and 14 cents for kids. Cartoons, a serial, a This Week in News, and 2 features.