Star Theatre

The Star Theatre was a silent-era movie theater in downtown Sumner, Nebraska. C.L. Moore and F.A. Millhouse launched there on May 5, 1923 in the existing H.B. Roper Building. The opening film was “Rider of the King Log” starring Frank Sheridan. The Star Theatre had replaced the Millhouse & Wilson retail store.

The theatre burned down February 16, 1927 and the piano, some stage equipment and some chairs were salvaged. The projectors were destroyed and, without insurance, the operator said he would wait to see the crop outlook for the year before deciding whether to rebuild.

The good news is that the nearest theatre was just six miles away in nearby Miller, Nebraska where the Ray Theatre operated. A new Star Building was built reopening on June 15, 1928 with Billy Dove in “American Beauty”. Just prior to its first anniversary, the operator closed again May 25, 1929 stating that he had gone broke.

The Star Theatre muddled through with a new owner for a brief period and with the local business operators banding together to provide a few free screenings. But the theatre was never equipped for sound films and closed up after its final screening on November 20, 1931 and a church service in December.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.