Minden Theatre

The Gem Theatre opened its doors on August 2, 1909. The original owners with the names of Ringnell and Schwenke also operated the city’s opera house, with Frank Haws being the projectionist since its opening.

During the last week of August and into the first week of September 1924, The theatre was remodeled containing the following: a remodeled stage curtain with a pretty mountain scenery picture painted upon it adds much to the attractiveness of the theatre. The windows were also decorated with rich red curtains, and colored lights were played upon a picture at intervals before the show opens changing vividly the effects of the painting. This also includes new projectors being installed, reopening with a film entitled “Pioneer Trails” on September 4, 1924. The theatre as of that time was operated by Mr. C. G. Binderup. He apparently also used some novel descriptions in advertising pictures. For “Pioneer Trails”, he hunted up a covered wagon, secured the services of a bunch of homemade Indians and cowboys, and gave a parade each evening prior to showing. Low Pinkham who did a war dance at intervals, was simply named as “Chief”, and a puncher, Gus Frederickson, brings up the rear if the procession attired in complete Western regalia, sombrero, chaps, spurs, guns, moustache, and others.

On November 22, 1929, the Gem Theatre was damaged by a fire that occurred at 6:30 PM in the evening that night, caused by an overheated stove as the blaze being located in the right wing of the stage where the stove is located and had followed the partitions to the ceiling and was blazing briskly in the attic of the building. The theatre continued to resume showings after the fire.

Scribner native L. C. Ehlers took over the management for the Gem Theatre after being operated by Mr. Binderup on May 1, 1930. Silent films continued to operate until the arriving of RCA Photophone sound system. A month, a week, and a day later, it arrived.

On June 9, 1930, L. C. Ehlers installed talkies, and the theatre changed its name to the Minden Theatre. The theatre was once again remodeled and reopened with Bert Wheeler and Bob Woolsey in “The Cuckoos” along with an unnamed Laurel and Hardy and a newsreel; and the theatre is resplendent with gold leaf and silk drapes. CinemaScope was installed in 1955.

The Minden Theatre continued to operate into the early-1970’s, but its closing date is not known yet.

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