Parkway Theatre
910 10th Avenue,
Union Grove,
WI
53182
910 10th Avenue,
Union Grove,
WI
53182
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The Parkway Theatre in Union Grove, Wisconsin closed after a final film screening on the evening of April 28, 1944. It had served as the center of many village community activities since it was built in 1927. Owner Floyd E. Coling, an area painting/decorating contractor, sold the 44 by 110-foot square Parkway Theatre building with full basement to Edward Haas of Racine, Wisconsin, president of the Metal Parts corporation. It was quickly cleared to house the Haas Mold company for use in making castings and molds for Army and Navy contracts with a view to post-war manufacturing. Thirty employees began operations on about May 15, 1944. The Parkway Theatre had also been used as a gymnasium for Racine County basketball games for many years.
Contributed by
Lou Rugani
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Coling’s Parkway Theater Is Opened at Union Grove - Several Write Essays in Which New Playhouse Is Given Praise.
First nights hold a fascination never found before. Whether they be in Roxy’s world’s largest theater in New York or in Floyd Coling’s beautiful Parkway theater, Union Grove. Impressions of the gala opening of the Parkway theater at Union Grove Thursday night have been written by many persons who attended the celebration. They are by A. F. Ruzicka. principal of the Union Grove high school; Pearl Hart, Norway; Gladys Wendt, Raymond; Elaine Berg and Frances Healy, West Allis, and Estelle Bertke of Union Grove, all of the Racine and Kenosha Rural Normal school.
Prizes to Be Awarded.
Five dollars in prizes will be awarded to the authors of the three best “First Night Impressions at the Opening of the Parkway Theater, Union Grove.” For first prize $2.50 will be given; for second prize, $1.50, and for third place, $1. Edward Zahn Sr., Racine merchant; J. S. Blakey, “Union Grove’s grand old man,” and others spoke at the opening celebration Thursday night and Floyd Coling’s new theater was banked with flowers from business houses and individuals. A program of songs and dances was presented by Arthur Hocking, assisted by Florence Petersen Hocking and Regnia Garvey.
To Become Community Center.
The new Parkway theater will fill an important place in village activities and is expected to become a community center. The theater contains a large stage, 36 rows of seats, 22 in a row, and a splendid dance floor. A library, council and fire department are part of the building. In a fashion show, the opening night fall and winter garments from Zahn’s were modeled and the display of 1928 fashions was applauded by hundreds of women in the audience. The entire program was arranged by Arthur Hocking. The Arcadian orchestra provided the music and little Buddy Hanson gave song and dance numbers.
Theater Is Packed.
One of the largest crowds to attend a fall social event in Union Grove was present at the Parkway theater Thursday night. Early in the evening people began crowding into the building and the curtain rose to a burst of applause. (Racine Journal Times, Thursday, October 1, 1927)