Gale Theatre
Galesburg,
MI
49053
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Theatre was listed in the 1956 Film Daily Year Book.
I am the Grandaughter of Eli Frank. He was a great man. Always inventing himself and was very active in many communities. I do not remember the Gale Theater or the Wayland Theater but do know of them.My Uncle David Frank is putting together pictures and articles for the Historical Society in Galesburg. I do remember the Park Theater. I miss those times with my Grandparents. I’ve been told stories of our families past by my Uncle and my Mother Jan. Thank you Paul Fine on our family history, and I believe my Mom has your book. I want to thank you all for your information.
The six Frank siblings (including Harry, Bailey, and Edythe) were raised by their mother Lena “Lizza/Lizzie” Kudlick Frank (1876-1951). After her husband George Frank deserted Lena and her children in ca. 1909, Lena did sewing to make ends meet. But eventually, she borrowed a movie projector, created a makeshift movie house in a wooden building that George had constructed in Wayland, Michigan, and earned income through that venture. Lizzie was born in Brest-Litovsk, Grodno Province, Russia. She came to New York City in 1889 with most of her siblings and her mother, Sarah (Sofia) Straszelski Kudlick. Lizzie’s father, Elihu (Elias) Kudlick, had arrived in New York City in ca. 1887. In Russia, Elias had been a master tailor who made dress uniforms for Russian Army officers. Lizzie was ca. 14 years old when she ran off with George Frank, a tailor, who was ca. 23 years old. Neither her parents nor her eight brothers and sisters (including my grandfather Ruben Kudlick [1877-1959]) saw Lizzie again. By March 1895 had Lizzie changed her given name to Lena (although her name was recorded as “Lizzie Franks” on Harry Frank’s birth certificate in December 1893 at Lake Odessa, Michigan, and in several early 1890s land documents that she and George signed). In 1989, I was contacted by Lena’s son David Eli Frank; the two long-separated branches of the Kudlick extended family were finally reunited.
David Eli Frank, known as Eli, was the youngest of the Frank children. Brother Morris owned the Kent Theatre in Cedar Springs, Michigan. Brother Naman E. Frank and wife Jessie [nee Bennett of Middleville, Michigan] (my great uncle and aunt) built the Wayland Theatre in Wayland, Michigan.