New Badger Theatre
201-215 Grand Avenue,
Merrill,
WI
54452
201-215 Grand Avenue,
Merrill,
WI
54452
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Adler Theater Co., Inc.
Previous Names: Badger Opera House, Badger Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Badger Opera House was built in 1907 and had 988 seats. It was adjacent to the Badger Hotel. It was re-named Badger Theatre in the mid-1920’s. J.P. Adler of the Adler Theater chain owned the New Badger Theater from 1939 and were still the operators in 1955.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Badger Hotel and its associated theater were built in 1907 by August H. Stange, a local lumber magnate, banker, and sash and door manufacturer. The theater was originally called the Badger Opera House, and I’ve found references to it under that name published as late as 1924.
The Badger Opera House was listed in the 1913-1914 Cahn guide as a ground floor house with 988 seats, 402 of which were in the second balcony and gallery. These two sections were probably closed when the house converted to movies.
A ca.1915 photo of the auditorium of the Badger Opera House can bee seen on this web page.
More info and pics located in this Merrill document:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKCAMP1960-0974-003.aspx
JFK visited this town in 1960 and is shown in this picture outside the theater:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/103864335129507975/
I wish to get in contact with Ken McIntyre, regarding the posted photos. I am compiling a history on J.P. Adler, who once owned the Badger Hotel & Theater…