Airdome Theatre

On March 12, 1912, C.B. Sperry went to the La Harpe City Council meeting for permission to build an Airdome in downtown La Harpe. The town had a hardtop theater with ventilation issues at that point with Hatcher’s Electric Theatre about to become Hatcher’s Photoplay Theatre in a new location. Sperry’s request for the airdome was granted!

Sperry spent $600 for a lot just east of the city’s downtown square. The Airdome had a soft opening on May 22, 1912. The films started in earnest on May 29, 1912 with Miss Goetzke providing the songs between the four one-reel shorts allowing the films to be rewound and the next short to be threaded. Unlike most airdomes, Sperry operated year-round except in the second year of operation. It operated as Sperry’s Airdome, Airdome Theatre, and just plain Airdome in its eight years. The final film shown was Nell Shipman in “The Girl From Beyond” on June 23, 1919.

Sperry then launched his new Park Theatre in the Odd Fellows Building two days later on June 25, 1919 ending the Airdome’s run for films - likely using the Airdome’s projector. The Airdome completed its final season with dances and sporadic events in 1919. It has since been demolished.

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