New Badger Theatre

201-215 Grand Avenue,
Merrill, WI 54452

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adlergirl
adlergirl on April 9, 2016 at 8:55 am

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…

badgerway
badgerway on November 13, 2013 at 6:24 am

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/

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 1, 2012 at 9:13 am

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.