Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre had opened by 1923. It appears that this was a relocation of the previous Lyric Theatre at 100 E. Forest Avenue (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures). It was located in an old two story brick building constructed sometime between 1885 and 1890. The building became a hotel, and the upstairs was still a rooming house in 1912, when the map shows a pool hall on the ground floor.

Although the building was modified to add a stage and scenery, the rooming house continued to occupy the upper story. The Lyric Theatre operated through 1931, but is not listed in 1932.

A Ritz Theatre, of 450 seats, appears in the 1933 listings. It is possible that this was an extensive remodel of this structure, likely expanding into the upper story. The Ritz Theatre is listed at 400 seats and closed in 1934, and is listed as closed off and on through the late-1940’s. The 1935 and 1943 maps show this building as a store.

Whatever its later use, this building was demolished many years ago, and is today a small parking area between the buildings to either side.

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