Pioneer 3 Theatre

110 S. 11th Street,
Nebraska City, NE 68410

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Related Websites

ACX Cinemas (Official)

Additional Info

Operated by: ACX Cinemas

Previously operated by: Griffith Amusement Company, Main Street Theatres

Architects: Robert O. Boller, Dietz Lusk Jr.

Firms: Boller & Lusk

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Styles: Art Deco

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 402.296.4557
Manager: 402.873.6487

Nearby Theaters

Pioneer ... Nebraska City Nebraska .. 1983

Replacing an earlier pioneer Theatre which was destroyed by fire on December 4, 1947 (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures). The new 1,100-seat Pioneer Theatre was a stadium seating style theatre which opened on February 3, 1949 with Dennis Morgan in “One Sunday Afternoon”.

Contributed by William Barstow

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

James Colburn
James Colburn on October 18, 2004 at 4:28 am

Just saw a shot of this theatre in the movie About Schmidt
with Jack Nicholson. Sure Looks like it.

ksup34
ksup34 on December 1, 2004 at 5:19 pm

Here’s a picture of the Pioneer. (middle of the page)

http://www.eomaha.com/gallery/necity/

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 20, 2007 at 10:29 pm

Here is an article about the opening of the theater dated 2/10/49:

The formal opening of the new Pioneer Theater at Nebraska City, Neb., which was attended by Mr. and Mrs. John Newcomer and Mr. and Mrs. John Irvin of Chillicothe, was a matter of definite interest to the Chillicotheans as the construction of the Pioneer is very similar to that of the new theater under construction here. They were quite impressed. Both the Griffith theaters are of the “stadium type,” which does away with the need for a balcony. About half way back in the auditorium a “ramping” effect of the rows of seats begins. Under the back section is a sunken lounge, with a foyer in front of the lounge and the lobby in front of that.

Murals done in “black lighting” gave an outstanding effect to the auditorium, Irvin found. The local murals will be 14x30 feet on either side and are to depict a local or area scene or one in keeping with the name of the theater. The Nebraska City theater seats about 900 persons. The Chillicothe theater is to seat about 1,050. “If our theater is as nice as that one it will be one of the outstanding theaters in all North Missouri,” Contractor Irvin said. Some refinements in the local plans may be made, based on what was learned in constructing the Nebraska house. Irvin said he hoped to outdo the work in Nebraska.

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on November 17, 2008 at 12:20 pm

A 1983 view of the Pioneer Theatre in Nebraska City.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on August 26, 2010 at 10:13 pm

Great pictures.Hope it is still running movies.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on May 21, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Nebraska City’s original Pioneer Theatre burned down December 4, 1947. It was originally called the New Idea Theatre in 1906 and became the Empire and Paramount for Booth Brothers prior to becoming the Pioneer for Williams-Griffith.

Griffith Enterprises Circuit built a new Pioneer in 1948 launching as the New Pioneer, a mammoth 1,100-seat venue on February, 3, 1949. The Arbor Theatre was demoted to the town’s second-run, popular price location. The Pioneer would convert to widescreen in the 1950s and later was triplexed to remain viable. In the 21st Century, ACX Cinemas ran the venue as an all-digital first-run location.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on September 1, 2021 at 6:45 pm

Opening film on February 3, 1949 was Dennis Morgan in “One Sunday Afternoon.”

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