Almost certainly a remodel of a much older theater. Sometime between 1886 and 1890, a pair of narrow two story brick storefronts were constructed at what were then 512 and 514. They separated by a very narrow court, and a large single story space at the rear was occupied by a plumber and gas fitter, with a 311 Exchange St address. By 1908, the addresses were 616 and 618.
By 1915, the space at the rear had been drastically remodeled to create an auditorium. The entrance was now in the southern half, at 620 (due to the filling of the court by a very narrow little store). Oddly, the stage was toward the front of the building. I’ve attached a Sanborn view.
This must have had a very brief existence. It’s not on the 1908 Sanborn, nor the 1915 edition. I assume it was upstairs, since the bar has been untouched since it was installed.
A lot of the information is incorrect. Part of the confusion is that odds and evens switched sides between 1948 and 1953. It also seems that we are conflating a few theaters.
The 1912, 1917, 1924 and 1948 maps all show one theater on the 100 block of W Washington, but it is never in the same place. In addition, neither the 1930 nor the 1953 maps show any theaters at all in the 100 block of either E or W Washington. Of the 4 theaters, two have been demolished, and two are still there.
The address is wrong. The theater was at 116. It did have a 111 address until sometime between 1948 and 1953.
It seems to have been an extensive remodel of the southern half of very old commercial building dating to before 1886. The space is shown as a grocery on the 1917 map, but was operating by 1924. Obviously, the art deco facade dates to some later point. The theater remains in operation on the 1953 map. It was converted to retail at some point, but appears vacant.
The theater was just south of the alley. It replaced two small storefronts shown on the 1948 map. I’ve added a Sanborn view, which gives the address as 146.
This theater appears on the 1924 Sanborn, but this was an empty lot in 1917. The auditorium was a rather ungainly brick box sloping north toward Van Buren St. Even by the 2008 streetview, it appears derelict, and the building was demolished sometime between 2014 and 2018.
Is this possibly just an AKA for the Dallas? Two theaters seems a bit much for a town that was just under 4,000 people in 1950-60. Even assuming it’s where all the farmers came on Saturday, the county population was cratering - from 14,471 in 1940 to 12,416 in 1950 to 10,522 in 1960.
This theater may have operated into the ‘20s, based on information in the NRHP listing. At least up to 1917, maps show Main St was called Chief (street, presumably).
This was not the Lyric, that was across the street. The address is bogus. The post office is 220, so 252 is impossible. I suggest perhaps 218, if we even have the correct block.
If the address is right, this is absolutely demolished. It must have been the vacant lot next to the old post office. There are only a few other two story buildings left, and all are either in the wrong place on their blocks, or look completely unlike this theater. We also need to delete one of the photos, since it’s a duplicate.
Address is wrong. The building was at 100 E 4th. Looks like it was replaced by the bank by the ‘70s or '80s (that fake colonial style is hard to pin down).
The June 1925 Sanborn shows this as the New Star, with a note ‘From Plans’, possibly not open yet? Schedule does include a few movies, but mostly plays.
On the 1904 map, the building that later housed the Princess is 21-23, but on the 1909 map, which shows the theater there, the address is 23-25, and 17-21 belongs to a pre-1886 building to the south that has now been demolished. That northern storefront (21) was shown as vacant in 1904 and 1909. It’s a china shop in 1914, and a barber in 1921. The Bijou can’t have been an aka for the Princess, since there’s overlap with the Arcadia’s tenure there.
The address is wrong. This was at what was then 233-235 Benton, and is now 133 Convention.
Needs to be listed as demolished.
Almost certainly a remodel of a much older theater. Sometime between 1886 and 1890, a pair of narrow two story brick storefronts were constructed at what were then 512 and 514. They separated by a very narrow court, and a large single story space at the rear was occupied by a plumber and gas fitter, with a 311 Exchange St address. By 1908, the addresses were 616 and 618.
By 1915, the space at the rear had been drastically remodeled to create an auditorium. The entrance was now in the southern half, at 620 (due to the filling of the court by a very narrow little store). Oddly, the stage was toward the front of the building. I’ve attached a Sanborn view.
Hey, a picture of the Gaines Block! Built 1881, destroyed for a parking lot for the hulking federal building.
This must have had a very brief existence. It’s not on the 1908 Sanborn, nor the 1915 edition. I assume it was upstairs, since the bar has been untouched since it was installed.
I added a picture I took in 2016. Looks like it’s been spruced up a bit since then. Still need to fix the address, dates, etc.
So what’s the real address? Which building is it?
The address is just a guess. This was at the corner of Chert and a now vanished extension of 2nd (which even then was closed).
A lot of the information is incorrect. Part of the confusion is that odds and evens switched sides between 1948 and 1953. It also seems that we are conflating a few theaters.
The 1912, 1917, 1924 and 1948 maps all show one theater on the 100 block of W Washington, but it is never in the same place. In addition, neither the 1930 nor the 1953 maps show any theaters at all in the 100 block of either E or W Washington. Of the 4 theaters, two have been demolished, and two are still there.
The address is wrong. The theater was at 116. It did have a 111 address until sometime between 1948 and 1953.
It seems to have been an extensive remodel of the southern half of very old commercial building dating to before 1886. The space is shown as a grocery on the 1917 map, but was operating by 1924. Obviously, the art deco facade dates to some later point. The theater remains in operation on the 1953 map. It was converted to retail at some point, but appears vacant.
The theater was just south of the alley. It replaced two small storefronts shown on the 1948 map. I’ve added a Sanborn view, which gives the address as 146.
This theater appears on the 1924 Sanborn, but this was an empty lot in 1917. The auditorium was a rather ungainly brick box sloping north toward Van Buren St. Even by the 2008 streetview, it appears derelict, and the building was demolished sometime between 2014 and 2018.
The address must be wrong. Probably W Main, but there doesn’t seem to be an address higher than 219.
Is this possibly just an AKA for the Dallas? Two theaters seems a bit much for a town that was just under 4,000 people in 1950-60. Even assuming it’s where all the farmers came on Saturday, the county population was cratering - from 14,471 in 1940 to 12,416 in 1950 to 10,522 in 1960.
This theater may have operated into the ‘20s, based on information in the NRHP listing. At least up to 1917, maps show Main St was called Chief (street, presumably).
This was not the Lyric, that was across the street. The address is bogus. The post office is 220, so 252 is impossible. I suggest perhaps 218, if we even have the correct block.
If the address is right, this is absolutely demolished. It must have been the vacant lot next to the old post office. There are only a few other two story buildings left, and all are either in the wrong place on their blocks, or look completely unlike this theater. We also need to delete one of the photos, since it’s a duplicate.
I added a 2016 photo. You can just make out a faded ‘Discount’ on the facade. I’d guess the storefront is from the late ‘50s to mid '60s.
Description is misleading. This is not on a corner, it’s well down the block, closer to Bell St. It was abandoned by 2014.
The picture makes it pretty obvious that the Coca-Cola plant has absolutely no link with the theater.
When I saw this in 2020, the marquee said ‘New Owners - Call (870) 568-6382’.
Address is wrong. The building was at 100 E 4th. Looks like it was replaced by the bank by the ‘70s or '80s (that fake colonial style is hard to pin down).
The June 1925 Sanborn shows this as the New Star, with a note ‘From Plans’, possibly not open yet? Schedule does include a few movies, but mostly plays.
The 1909 map is from September, well before closure, so I don’t know why this wouldn’t appear.
On the 1904 map, the building that later housed the Princess is 21-23, but on the 1909 map, which shows the theater there, the address is 23-25, and 17-21 belongs to a pre-1886 building to the south that has now been demolished. That northern storefront (21) was shown as vacant in 1904 and 1909. It’s a china shop in 1914, and a barber in 1921. The Bijou can’t have been an aka for the Princess, since there’s overlap with the Arcadia’s tenure there.