Home Theatre
126 E. Cook Street,
Portage,
WI
53901
126 E. Cook Street,
Portage,
WI
53901
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The smaller of two downtown Portage theatres, the Home Theatre was opened on June 22, 1911 screening “The Country Lovers”, “A Good Turn” & “An Imitator of Blondin”. It was equipped with a Smith 2 manual organ. In the 1920’s it was equipped with a M.P. Moller 2 manual organ which had 28 registers. It was renovated in 1950, reopening on April 13, 1950 as the New Home Theatre, screening “Battleground” starring Van Johnson. It later reverted back to the Home Theatre name and was closed in 1960. The building is today used as a furniture store.
Contributed by
Lou Rugani
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Page 27 of this PDF has a photo of a derailed streetcar with the Home Theatre in the background. The document says that streetcar service in Portage ended in 1916, so the Home Theatre was in operation by then.
I had a friend in high school who had lived in Portage, but he never mentioned the names of any theaters there.
According to “The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ” by David Junchen, pg. 631, the “Home Theatre” in Portage, Wisconsin, had a two-manual Smith theatre pipe organ installed at some point.
Other than the state, town, and theatre name, and # of manuals, no other details are given in the book.
However, given what I know so far about the Smith firm in its various permutations:
If this organ was installed through about 1916, it was likely a Smith organ made in upstate New York.
If it was installed between about 1917 and early 1921, it was likely Seeburg-Smith organ made in Chicago in the Seeburg factory under Smith’s supervision.
If it was installed between late 1921 and early 1924, it was likely a Smith organ made in Chicago in Smith’s own factory.
Finally, if the organ was installed between late 1924, and the end of the 1920s (c. 1927) it was likely a Leathurby-Smith organ made in Alameda, California. However, the latter is quite unlikely, since I’m not aware of any Leathurby-Smith organs sold outside of the West Coast states (California, Oregon, and Washington).
If anybody knows any more info about this organ, or the theatre itself, that would be great!
Closed in 1960.
The Home Theatre was one of three houses listed at Portage in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, the other two being the Crystal Theatre on DeWitt Street and the Empire Theatre, no location given. By 1916 Portage had houses called the Gem and the Majestic, though the latter was slated to close that year.
I’ll add those theaters as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Home Theatre dates as early as 1911.
Judson and Avers opened the Home a Theatre on June 22, 1911 with “The Country Lovers,“ “A Good Turn” and “An Imitator of Blondin”. The theatre closed for a major refresh in 1950. It relaunched as the New Home Theatre on April 13, 1950 with;”Battleground.” It reverted to Home Theatre closing in 1960.