Lyric Theater

Actually, it opened on July 1, 1916 with “The Battle Of Cry And Peace”. Information goes as follows: It was constructed and built beginning on April 15, 1916 and took 70 days to complete it. The Lyric contains a 120x40 long auditorium with a capacity of 618 with mahogany seats. The walls are colored with light tan and cream color, At the north section of the theater contains the stage, a 20x24ft with 14ft high above. The loft for handling scenery is 29ft in height. A number of pieces of scenery from the Twin City Scenic Company has all been put in place. There is a roomy orchestra pit, large enough to give ample room for an orchestra of 12-15 musicians. The orchestra, is furnished by Weber’s orchestra of 6 pieces. Beneath the stage is the heating and ventilating plant. The former is a blower type while the ventilating is done by a 30in disc fan. 2 Motiograph machines have been installed in the operating room which were large and airy and is fireproof in all respects. The screen is known for the Danish Diamond and was imported. In case of an emergency, there are 8 large exits which would accommodate all persons in the building. Bathrooms for both genders were included.

This opened on July 1st, 1917.

Found on Newspapers.com

Here’s a photo of drawing of the Lyric‘s layout form an insurance map.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwilke/

This is from the Stevens Point Daily Journal dated 7/22/55:

Lyric Marquee Tells Of Plans For Opening Soon

The Lyric theater, closed since mid May, is scheduled to open on Friday, July 29, according to an announcement on the marquee of the building. Theater officials were not available today for
comment on the announcement A remodeling project has been under way at the theater, including the installation of new seats. The Lyric is owned by Gran Enterprises, Inc., also the owners of the Highway 51 Outdoor, currently operating despite a dispute with the Motion Picture Projectionists' union. The outdoor theater is picketed each evening. The Fox theater, closed since May 2, has made no announcement regarding re-opening. It was closed “for business reasons.”

According to local historical sources, the Lyric was opened in 1916 with 499 seats. It was located on the north side of Main Street, near the west end of the present Shopko parking lot and driveway/city bus stop, a few doors east of where the Fox Theatre still stands. I have seen an old photograph (1940s or early 50s maybe?) that confirms this. Judging from the photo, the Lyric was smaller in comparison to the Fox, so a seating capacity of 900 is most unlikely (the larger Fox Theatre only seated about 600 when it opened). The Lyric was home to a two manual Barton organ.