Majestic Theatre

177 N. Brown Street,
Rhinelander, WI 54501

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50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 12, 2022 at 8:13 am

Update: I just found out that there were two Majestic Theatres in Rhinelander. The first one opened as early as 1911 and closed sometime around 1914 and was relocated.

The second Majestic Theatre began construction in the Spring of 1915 and opened by H.C. Zander on December 16, 1915 with a 6-reel presentation of “Soul of Broadway” starring Valeska Suralt, plus a performance by the theater’s orchestra named after the theater conducted by George Hartman. The Majestic Theatre would then run for many decades in the city of Rhinelander. The theater was remodeled on December 26, 1951, and it was the first to install CinemaScope on July 4, 1954, despite the finishing touches of the nearby Rouman Drive-In with a VistaVision typical screen, even though the neighboring towns such as Woodruff and Minocqua already received CinemaScope before Rhinelander. The theater was still in operation into the 1960s.

Information about the Majestic as of 1915 goes as follows: The theater contains the following: a capacity of 600 seats, then-latest appliances for proper subjects, heating, lighting, ventilating, and projection systems. Two emergency exits in the rear, both plainly marked and the stage can be emptied in short order. The interior decorations as of 1915 were painted pink and old ivory, and the walls and ceiling were built under stucco. The theater is first operated by H.C. Zander.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 5, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Here is part of a September 1932 article from the Rhinelander Daily News:

Transfer of the operation of Rhinelander’s two theaters â€"the State and the Majesticâ€"to new management was announced today. The new operators are the M&M Enterprises, Inc. The new operating company consists of several prominent Wisconsin motion picture exhibitors, chief of whom are S.W. Miller, formerly of Milwaukee, and Fred H. Meyer, president of the Motion Picture Theater Owners of Wisconsin. Mr. Miller will manage the Rhinelandler theaters and is now making his home here.

The State theater was closed today and will remain closed until Saturday, when it will open for the matinee and two evening shows with the picture, “Once in a Lifetime,” starring Jack Oakie. For the midnight show the new management will present Norma Shearer in the world premiere showing of the picture, “Smilin' Through.“ The latter picture was an outstanding success in the silent version and has been acclaimed by critics as being even better in the talkie version.

The Majestic theater is being operated as usual. While Mr. Miller said today that he had not definitely decided upon the plan, he is contemplating operating the Majestic Saturdays and Sundays only, temporarily, after this week-end.