Alhambra Theater
334 W. Wisconsin Avenue,
Milwaukee,
WI
53201
334 W. Wisconsin Avenue,
Milwaukee,
WI
53201
1 person
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I was only 11 when the Alhambra was torn down but for some reason my love for old buildings had begun to blossom and I still remember how sad it made me to see the a slice through the theater, exposing what had been its lovely interior.
A little more on that Mighty WurliTizer Theater Pipe Organ, Opus 1261, a 2/6, manual/ranks, keyboards/sets of pipes. It was shipped (not installed) the 637 miles from North Tonawanda, New York, on January 30, 1926. It had a curved console, 450 pipes, 4 tuned percussions and 20 traps (sound effects on the toy counter). It was sold to Our Lady of Good Hope Church in Milwaukee and then sold to someone 65 miles South in Riverwoods, Illinois and it is “OK”. Anyone know anything else?
Contained 100 200-watt lamps and 18 60 watt lamps.
There is a photo of the Alhambra on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/3cdy7k
The Alhambra was a money maker for Warner Theaters. They usally offered action Bs and reissuses. During the 50s with the stiff competition from televison and blockbusters at the other downtown houses, The Alhambra alwaus had a crowd. Randolph Scott, Audie Murphy and Warner gangster reissuses were shown often. The upper balcony was always filled with sailors from The Great Lakes Naval Base and their Milwaukee girl friends.
TheAlhambra did show some big pictures. Laurence Olivier"s Hamlet played a road show engagement. Streetcar Named Desire and Life with Father also were road show engagements.
Please let me know if you learn anything more about this theatre. Thank You. Jim Rankin =