Royal Theater

515 Main Street W,
Ashland, WI 54806

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CJ1949
CJ1949 on June 29, 2015 at 9:23 pm

Latts is correct. 1914 was the opening. Closing was April 1957. A 2-25-57 article in the Ashland Daily Press said the last performance in the theatre was going to be a legit show “Showboat Minstrel Days” on April 24-25, 1957 put on by “Irish Bill” Dormady, who had put on many shows in the city’s theaters. The photo “take your family to the movies tonight” was featured in this article but the date of that photo(?) it could have been a file photo. And, no confirmation found yet as to when the last films were actually shown here.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 28, 2013 at 12:07 am

The correct spelling of Abe and Louis' surname is apparently Latts. I’ve found quite a few instances of it in trade journals. The Latts brothers also operated the Majestic Theatre and, at one time, the Bijou. A Bertha Latts was still operating at least one theater in Ashland at least as late as 1939.

A Google Books snippet view of a 1983 survey of Ashland architecture says that the Royal Theatre was built by the Latts brothers in 1914. That means it was probably the project noted in the May 23, 1914, issue of The American Contractor:

“Ashland, Wis.—Theater: 50x133. Archt. Henry Wildhagen. Owners Latts Bros. Archt. taking bids to May 19.”
Henry Wildhagen was probably also the architect of the Elite Theatre at Appleton, Wisconsin. His office was in Ashland.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 14, 2013 at 4:19 am

The Royal Theatre at Ashland, Wisconsin, was mentioned in the April 1, 1916 issue of the trade journal Motography. The house was owned by Abe and Louis Latz and Leon Schwager.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 13, 2008 at 5:15 pm

That should be the Royal, not the Ashland.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 13, 2008 at 4:57 pm

This article states that the Ashland was turned into a tire store after closure. It looks like it’s currently a beauty salon.
http://tinyurl.com/58g23z