This should be listed as demolished. It was probably demolished after the fire. The ugly little one story building on the site of the theater, which used a 130 address, has itself now been demolished. The remainder of the building has had the tacky and awful remodel stripped off, revealing the tile facade. There is a typo in the listing, saying it was the Olympic in 1915. That should be Olympia.
From an old postcard, it’s clear a third floor was added. The second floor had very ornate hoodmoldings that appear to be brick, while the third floor had much simple and taller windows. There was a pent tile roof, under which hung large globe light fixtures.
The front was much older. First built between 1892 and 1896, as a two story triple storefront for a wholesale grocer. By 1901 it was either enlarged or replaced with a building of the same shape, but three stories.
Information posted by Joe on the Empress listing sheds some new light. The Happy Hour was opened by a Mr. Ferris, who sold it to Sisk and James in July of 1916. He kept the Happy Hour name and moved it to the Empress, which he had just purchased. Sisk and James supplied the new name, but the US didn’t enter the war for another year. This makes two Americans, and two Happy Hours!
I don’t know where the AMPD got that 338 address, but it was wrong. There was no 300 block at all. Numbers went from 200 east of the railroad to 400 west of it. The theater does not appear on the December 1914 Sanborn. There were two theaters one block to the west. One must have been the Empress, since it was nearly at the end. The other, two doors to the east, must have been the Happy Hour. The history needs to be clarified, and the AKA removed. As Gustafson wrote years ago, this theater was built 1920-25.
I guess James and Sisk explains the JS monograms over the side entrances.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Mar 24, 2024 at 11:01 am
Since we know the other early theater was the Majestic, this either has to be the Electric, or the Electric was one door to the south in the Briggs Block, and came and went between maps.
I’m not sure we have the ID right. A 200 seat theater would have fit just about anywhere. There are a lot of buildings missing. The bowling alley looks more like an old dealership or garage, and is really big to only have fit 200 people. 350-375 seems like a different building from a 200 seater. That larger capacity makes a little more sense for the bowling alley. Frustratingly, there do not seem to have been any Sanborns made of Jewell, even though it was close to 1,000 people by 1900.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Mar 20, 2024 at 2:01 pm
Added a map view. By 1913, the space next door (a barber in this view) had become a theater. It’s possible it was the same operation.
Very bare bones listing. Looked quite a bit older, sort of a streamline building. Probably built sometime around 1940. Address was something like 224 E Lee Hwy (US 11). Long abandoned, it was still there in 2015, but was torn down by 2019.
The building has been remuddled a few times, and is missing the cornice. It was gutted by fire October 2021, and the 2022 streetview shows it roofless.
The ‘Related Website’ is dead. Also, it would be good if we could clarify when this fire happened.
This should be listed as demolished. It was probably demolished after the fire. The ugly little one story building on the site of the theater, which used a 130 address, has itself now been demolished. The remainder of the building has had the tacky and awful remodel stripped off, revealing the tile facade. There is a typo in the listing, saying it was the Olympic in 1915. That should be Olympia.
Sorry, I goofed. I meant the Iowa, which opened in 1929. There was no Sheldon, that I know of.
From an old postcard, it’s clear a third floor was added. The second floor had very ornate hoodmoldings that appear to be brick, while the third floor had much simple and taller windows. There was a pent tile roof, under which hung large globe light fixtures.
The front was much older. First built between 1892 and 1896, as a two story triple storefront for a wholesale grocer. By 1901 it was either enlarged or replaced with a building of the same shape, but three stories.
Torn down many years ago. Was a large three story building fronting a two story auditorium. Replaced by a cheap and drab little mini-mall.
Run by Krull now, not sure when that changed. Website should be: https://krullcinemas.com/Locations/Main%20Street%203
The name is especially dopey because Sheldon has no Main St at all.
Information posted by Joe on the Empress listing sheds some new light. The Happy Hour was opened by a Mr. Ferris, who sold it to Sisk and James in July of 1916. He kept the Happy Hour name and moved it to the Empress, which he had just purchased. Sisk and James supplied the new name, but the US didn’t enter the war for another year. This makes two Americans, and two Happy Hours!
Sounds like the Family was a short-lived operation. Maps here are from 1899 and 1909, leaving a gap that it must have existed in.
Interesting. So it looks like the information about the renaming was incorrect. Some of the Happy Hour/American history will have to be changed.
Based on an old postcard, I believe this was the Wonderland.
Minor correction - According to the NRHP listing for downtown, the replacement is from 1974. Not clear if the earlier building lasted that long.
This is a better website (links direct to this theater): https://www.fridleytheatres.com/movie-theater/cherokee-american3
I don’t know where the AMPD got that 338 address, but it was wrong. There was no 300 block at all. Numbers went from 200 east of the railroad to 400 west of it. The theater does not appear on the December 1914 Sanborn. There were two theaters one block to the west. One must have been the Empress, since it was nearly at the end. The other, two doors to the east, must have been the Happy Hour. The history needs to be clarified, and the AKA removed. As Gustafson wrote years ago, this theater was built 1920-25.
I guess James and Sisk explains the JS monograms over the side entrances.
Since we know the other early theater was the Majestic, this either has to be the Electric, or the Electric was one door to the south in the Briggs Block, and came and went between maps.
The 1916 map gives a capacity of 442. I wonder if the balcony being closed accounts for the difference.
I’m not sure we have the ID right. A 200 seat theater would have fit just about anywhere. There are a lot of buildings missing. The bowling alley looks more like an old dealership or garage, and is really big to only have fit 200 people. 350-375 seems like a different building from a 200 seater. That larger capacity makes a little more sense for the bowling alley. Frustratingly, there do not seem to have been any Sanborns made of Jewell, even though it was close to 1,000 people by 1900.
Added a map view. By 1913, the space next door (a barber in this view) had become a theater. It’s possible it was the same operation.
Not sure why it says that UVA is on the site now. It’s an arcade/mall, as Joe pointed out years ago.
The right reverend treasonous slaver. Named Fort Johnson since sometime in 2023.
Needs status corrected to demolished.
Very bare bones listing. Looked quite a bit older, sort of a streamline building. Probably built sometime around 1940. Address was something like 224 E Lee Hwy (US 11). Long abandoned, it was still there in 2015, but was torn down by 2019.
The building has been remuddled a few times, and is missing the cornice. It was gutted by fire October 2021, and the 2022 streetview shows it roofless.
This theater appears on the 1913 map, but the building is not on the 1908 map. Pastime (not Past Time) should be added to the AKA.