Comments about Star Theater in Weiser, ID

Joe Vogel on July 16, 2024 at 7:44 pm

Here is an article about the Star Theatre from the October 6, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World:

“Weiser, Idaho.—Considered by traveling film men one of the prettiest little moving picture theaters in the West, the Star at Weiser, Idaho, owned and operated by A. C. Gordon, has established a policy of showing only the best in photoplays that is in keeping with the high class character of the theater.

“The Weiser Star, was completed July 28 and opened with Baby Marie Osborne in ‘Told At Twilight.’ The general opening was had on July 30 when ‘Sleeping Fires,’ with Pauline Frederick, was the feature. The house was crowded on both days.

“The plans for the Star were drawn by a Salt Lake architect and special attention was directed toward real metropolitan features in the theater. The lighting, which is semi-indirect, is controlled by dimmers. There are no open side lights. The stage is of good size and equipped electrically and otherwise to handle vaudeville acts.”

“There are no steps in the theater and all inclines and aisles are fitted with cork carpets. The ceiling is decorated in plain cream color, the side walls being old rose with panel work. the auditorium seats 450.

“The projection is taken care of from a modern lamp room 10 by 14 in size, equipped with two Simplex machines and one Motiograph. The throw is 90 feet to a 10 by 16 screen.

“Manager-owner A. C. Gordon entered the picture field January 1, 1917, when he bought out the old Star theater, since closed, from Sullivan and Meek. He had in mind the building of his new house when he made the purchase and broke ground for it May 1.

“Mr. Gordon’s success is undoubtedly due to his study of the photoplay industry long before he became engaged in it. ‘I have been a subscriber for the "World’” for three years,‘ says Mr. Gordon, 'and you know that helps a fellow some.’“

Joe Vogel on July 4, 2013 at 12:49 am

It has been proven that the Star and the Wheaton were different theaters, though the Wheaton operated under the name Star Theatre for a few years before this house was opened. This Star Theatre, Weiser’s third of the name, must also be the one that got the Wurlitzer organ that is discussed on this PSTOS page.

A 1991 NRHP documentation form about theaters in Idaho attributes the design of the 1917 Star Theatre to Salt Lake City architect Frank Moore.

Joe Vogel on September 7, 2011 at 2:34 pm

I finally found the Wheaton listed in the 1914 Cahn guide, and it was indeed a second-floor house. Cahn listed it as having 567 seats.

The Onion Skin Players, current occupants of the Star Theatre, have a web site.

Joe Vogel on September 7, 2011 at 2:01 pm

If the Star was not the same house as the Wheaton Theatre, it reopens the question of when the Star was built. If it was opened by 1921, it could have been the Star that had the organ installed that year.

I came across a 1909 reference to a lecture held at the Wheaton Theatre, so the 1916 Music Trade Review announcement I cited must have marked its conversion into a movie theater. Judging from the photo I linked to, it looks like the Wheaton might have been a second-floor theater. Unfortunately I’ve been unable to find it listed in any edition of the Cahn guide.

Mike Rogers on December 21, 2010 at 11:00 pm

“TITANIC” is finishing its run on May 31.1953.

Joe Vogel on June 2, 2010 at 12:46 pm

If this Star Theatre was previously the Wheaton Theatre, then the Wurlitzer installed in the Star Theatre in 1921 (Lost Memory’s comment of Aug 30, 2007) must have been in the other Star Theatre, aka the Knights of Pythias Hall. The Wheaton was apparently still in operation in 1937. An item in Boxoffice of June 5 that year reported a fire at the Wheaton Theatre in Weiser, so the house must have been renamed the Star when it was rebuilt following the fire.

The web site GenDisasters provides this page quoting a May 21, 1937, Ogden Standard Examiner item about the fire.

A 1916 issue of the Music Trade Review has this entry for Idaho in a list of theaters recently opened: “C. Matt Sears has just opened the Wheaton Theatre, a new moving picture house, at Weiser.”

GenWeb has this photo of the Wheaton Theatre. It does not bear much resemblance to the Star Theatre building seen in the recent photos.

A classified ad in Motion Picture Times of August 4, 1928, offered for sale a Wurlitzer K organ at $7,500 dollars. The ad was placed by A.C. Gordon. I wonder if that could have been the organ from the earlier Star Theatre?

kencmcintyre on April 11, 2010 at 1:37 am

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yd267qw

teecee on April 26, 2005 at 6:21 pm

Recent photos (“X” out of the print menu):

View link
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teecee on February 17, 2005 at 5:38 pm

Old photos at this link:
View link

Star Theater

342 State Street, Weiser, ID 83672

342 State Street,
Weiser, ID 83672