Criterion Theatre

The Crescent Opera House launched in 1907 with live entertainment in the town’s central business district. But when the Happy Hour Theatre opened playing full time movies in the 1910’s, the Opera House began its downturn and closed.

“Doc” Duncan took on the venue equipping it for motion pictures. He renamed it Duncan’s Theatre and opened on August 14, 1920 with Edwin Carewe in “Rio Grande". J.C. Patrick took over the operation which had closed. Relaunched on February 26, 1921 as the Patrick Theatre, he opened with Blanche Sweet in “The Girl in the Web". The theatre also had some live performances, as well.

New operators took on theatre operating it as the Criterion Theatre to the end of a 20-year lease in 1927 not converting to sound. A new build theatre, the Ritz Theatre, was built and served as the town’s longest running movie theatre. The local paper said the the opera house was converted to a general merchandise retail store.

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