Keith Theatre
412 N. Dewey Street,
North Platte,
NE
69101
412 N. Dewey Street,
North Platte,
NE
69101
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Publix, Universal Chain Theatrical Enterprises Inc.
Functions: Retail
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The Keith Theatre was opened by former Nebraska Governor Keith Neville on September 23, 1908 with the live comic opera, “The Burgomaster” by Piscley and Luders. The Keith Theatre stayed loyal to its live theatrical roots much of its life though mostly booking vaudeville shows. By 1927, the theatre had pretty much converted to motion pictures under new owner Hostetter-Universal and even equipped it with Vitaphone for sound films beginning Christmas Day of 1928.
In 1929, Neville began construction of his new Pawnee Theatre to replace the aging Keith Theatre. In September of 1929, Fox acquired Neville’s new theatre as it raced toward completion and removed the Pawnee Theatre neon sign prior to opening and replacing it with the Fox Theatre, its moniker upon its opening on November 22, 1929.
Meanwhile, Publix Theatre Circuit swooped in and purchased the Keith Theatre in October of 1929. In 1931, Publix built its new Paramount Theatre which launched on April 4, 1931 ending the run of the Keith Theatre. The Keith Theatre closed April 2, 1931 with Betty Compson in “The Boudoir Diplomat” supported by a Chester Conklin comedy short, “Studio Sap”, and the Lloyd Hamilton short, “Ex Plumber”. The theatre was retrofitted as an art gallery.
Contributed by
dallasmovietheaters
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
It’s interesting to see the photos posted by dallasmovietheaters that the theatre was not at all distinguished. In the one taken just after the opening you can barely see the name on the building beneath the Republican banner. The name is much more visible in the later photo and lives on to this day.