When the Overland Theatre opened in 1897, it showed early motion pictures which proved to be popular. On November 29, 1906, Nebraska City got its first movie theater when the New Idea Theatre opened in an existing building at 815 Central playing short films along with vaudeville acts. On June 13, 1907, it was renamed the Empire theatre and was operated by Schnitzer and Wallen with 250 wooden chairs nailed together. The program was changed three times a week. There was a Saturday matinee but no Sunday performances because of the Blue Laws. Admission was 5 & 10 cents.
The ACX had its Grand Opening on December 25, 2020 with only two screens in use playing “Wonder Woman ‘84” and “News of the World.” Built by Main Street Theatres and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre opened under the ACX Cinemas Circuit.
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.
J Sterling Morton created the local opera house building nearby named the Overland Theatre in 1897 as a live venue. Movies were shown early in the Opera House’s existence and became an even more popular pastime leading to a new venue dedicated to films. The New Idea Theatre launched here on November 29, 1906 With short films and live entertainment. About six months later, new operators renamed the venue as the Empire Theatre opening on June 13, 1907 showing movies.
The venue changed names again to the Paramount Theatre in 1915. Its pipe organ became expendable not long after architect C.W. Steinbaugh’s remodeling of the Paramount in 1927 which would lead to sound movies. Its organ would move to the Booth Theatre in 1931. On June 24, 1939, the Booth Brothers sold three of their venues (Booth Theaters in Auburn and Nebraska City and Paramount in Nebraska City) to the Williams-Griffith Theatre Circuit took over the location.
Griffith gave the venue one final new name as the town’s original Pioneer Theatre on July 12, 1940. The Pioneer Theatre’s final screenings were on December 3, 1947. In the early hours of December 4, 1947, the building was destroyed by fire. A new Pioneer Theatre was built and remained in operation as a triplex to the 21st Century.
The Overland Theatre launched with a live performance of “Secret Service” on December 18, 1897. Chicago architect Sidney Lovell drew the plans for the venue which had 820 seats at opening for legendary local businessman, J. Sterling Morton. The drop curtain dramatized the 1864 Overland stagecoach attack by Cheyenne Indians in the valley of Little Blue.
Wesley and Robert Booth of Booth Brothers Circuit launched the Booth Theatre on June 4, 1931 with Jackie Cooper in “Donovan’s Kid.” Harry Lourie of Omaha designed the theater and architect W.E. Stockham was the local architect. The Booth had 750 seats at opening and a 16'x21' screen. The pipe organ from the Paramount Theatre was moved to the Booth at launch.
On June 24, 1939, the Booth Brothers sold three of their venues (Booth Theaters in Auburn and Nebraska City and Paramount in Nebraska City) to the Griffith Theatre Circuit took over the location, the gave the Booth Theatre a streamline moderne makeover complete a new sign spelling, “Arbor.” That was the theater’s new name as of May 28, 1940 at a rechristening ceremony attended by Mayor Ziegenbein.
On July 3, 1929, Robert Booth moved the Booth to its new and current location with a grand reopening as the New Booth Theatre. Wes W. Booth took over the theater in 1934. It had been renamed the Booth Theatre.
The Cine Pointe 6 Theatre closed on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened July 3, 2020. It closed again due to lack of business on August 28, 2020 hoping to reopen in 2021. On May 15, 2021, a decision was announced that closed the venue permanently. It was one of many theatres that announced a permanent closure due to the pandemic.
It’s difficult to keep all screens operating 7 days a week with so few major releases in the COVID-19 pandemic environment. I’d look for reduced staffs and fewer screens in usage at the Alamo locations until the major releases come later in 2021.
Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes closed March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with all of Alamo’s other 40 locations. Half of the circuit’s theaters briefly relaunched later that year but the Westlakes remained closed.
Alamo Drafthouse then declared bankruptcy on March 3, 2021 with three locations immediately shuttered. As the circuit re-emerged from bankruptcy a month later in April of 2021, it announced that the March 17, 2020 closure of the Westlakes would also be permanent.
Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn closed March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. Half of the circuit’s locations opened briefly later in the year excluding its Brooklyn theater. Alamo Drafthouse would file for bankruptcy on March 2, 2021. The company re-emerged from bankruptcy a month later after the takeover of the company by Fortress Investment Group,. The Brooklyn location then reopened on May 7, 2021 becoming the second theater in the Circuit to reopen for the circuit that year preceded only by its Springfield, Missouri venue.
A week after celebrating its third anniversary, Alamo Drafthouse Mueller closed March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with all of Alamo’s other 40 locations. 20 locations including the Mueller relaunched Friday, August 21, 2020. On October 5, 2020, Alamo joined Regal Theatres in shuttering for the pandemic a second time.
Alamo Drafthouse then declared bankruptcy on March 3, 2021 emerging with a new structure a month later allowing the circuit to continue operations with four locations shuttered. The Mueller was the third location to reopen for the circuit along with its Downtown Los Angeles location on May 28, 2021.
Just shy of its eighth month of operation, Alamo Drafthouse Downtown L.A. closed March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with all of Alamo’s other 40 locations. 20 locations excluding L.A. relaunched later in the year briefly. Alamo Drafthouse then declared bankruptcy on March 3, 2021 emerging with a new structure a month later allowing the circuit to continue operations with four locations shuttered. The Downtown L.A. was the third location to reopen for the circuit along with its Mueller location San Antonio on May 28, 2021.
Regal closed here on October 8, 2020. Regal had placed it on the list of theater relaunching on May 21, 2021 only to reverse course and placed it on a “to be determined” opening list.
The Burke Theatre was announced in 1913 and launched May 16, 1914 as a movie house. As the Burke, the final film ran October 20, 1925 as “The Live Wire” with Johnny Hines. The theatre was gutted by a fire early the next morning. The Saxe Amusement Circuit took on the venue relaunching as the Cameo Theatre on July 10, 1926 with “The Wilderness Woman.” The Fox Circuit took over the Saxe theaters including the Cameo in January of 1928 with the Cameo not transitioning to sound and closing.
The Cameo was used for church services until Willard Miller took on the venue. he installed wide range sound equipment relaunching the Cameo on September 17, 1933 with “Hat Check Girl” at the grand reopening. The theatre was then renamed the Chief Theatre - a name it retained until new owners too over in July 1943. Francis Schlax changed the name to the Ken Theatre on July 23, 1943 as a continuous-run, popular price, second-run discount house or grind house. It relaunched with Mickey Rooney in “The Human Comedy” supported by “Yanks Ahoy.” Standards Theatres closed the venue as the Ken Theater in January of 1945.
The 1870-built building was once the home of the Elks Club on its upper floors. The Bijou Theatre launched there on January 14, 1905 with continuous vaudeville. After several operator changes, Frank J. O'Brien took on the Bijou and relaunched it after a refresh as the Princess Theatre on September 15, 1913 with live vaudeville and two Kinemacolor films. He closed it in May of 1914 citing financial difficulties. Chicago operators took over the Princess relaunching it as the Virginian Theatre on September 24, 1914 with vaudeville and films.
Paramount films including “The Sheik” filled the crowds to capacity suggesting that the Virginian was too small to meet demand. The Virginian closed October 30, 1922 at the end of lease. The theatre equipment was auctioned off and stayed in place briefly when purchased by the Ke-Nash-A Club. When they moved out in 1923, the venue transitioned to a soda fountain.
The Mid-City Outdoor opened on April 16, 1949 with “Red River.” The ozoner closed after 35 years likely at end of lease with its final films on September 2, 1984 as “Oxford Blues,” “C.H.U.D.” and “Humanoids from the Deep.”
Harold W. Struve opened the Oregon Trail drive-in on July 13, 1953 with Vince Edwards in “Hiawatha”. Struve had operated the original Majestic Theatre but it was destroyed by a tornado on May 9, 1953. The Oregon Trail was the only theatre in town until the New Majestic Theatre launched January 9, 1954.
The original theatre design was rustic as the Oregon Trail feel was accomplished with the concession stand and projection booth housed in “The Ranch House” decked out in knotty pine and relics from pioneer days spread throughout the facility. On May 3, 1957 it was taken over by new operators and renamed Hebron Drive-In screening Phil Carey in “Port Afrique.”
Charles Pacini closed his Cozy Theatre on March 12, 1917 moving the equipment to the new build Butterfly Theatre which launched on March 17, 1917. The architect for the theater was Charles O. Augustine. Augustine would also draw plans for refurbishing the nearby Majestic Theatre. The new Butterfly launched with 650 seats, a Bartola Orchestra pipe organ. The opening feature was Charlie Chaplin in “On Easy Street” and Helen Rosson in “The Undertow.” The theatre was equipped for sound to remain viable. It received a major refresh relaunching as the “New” Butterfly Theatre on September 2, 1932 on a new 20-year lease.
On May 10, 1941, the refurbished venue became the Hollywood Theatre. Television hurt its revenue and it closed at the end of lease on April 30, 1952. It then reopened on October 16, 1953 with new operators. It closed May 2, 1954 with a double feature of “The Glass Web” and “Scared Stiff.”
The Pastime Theatre launched august 10, 1908 with motion pictures consisting of the “Gans-Nelson Fight,” “The Guilty Conscience,” “ John’s New Suit; or, Why He Didn’t Go to Church,” and “There’s Nobody Just Like You.”
Destroyed by fire May 9, 1943 as part of the Griffith Amusements Circuit.
October 1951 opening
Correction - First Paragraph:
When the Overland Theatre opened in 1897, it showed early motion pictures which proved to be popular. On November 29, 1906, Nebraska City got its first movie theater when the New Idea Theatre opened in an existing building at 815 Central playing short films along with vaudeville acts. On June 13, 1907, it was renamed the Empire theatre and was operated by Schnitzer and Wallen with 250 wooden chairs nailed together. The program was changed three times a week. There was a Saturday matinee but no Sunday performances because of the Blue Laws. Admission was 5 & 10 cents.
The ACX had its Grand Opening on December 25, 2020 with only two screens in use playing “Wonder Woman ‘84” and “News of the World.” Built by Main Street Theatres and delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre opened under the ACX Cinemas Circuit.
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.
J Sterling Morton created the local opera house building nearby named the Overland Theatre in 1897 as a live venue. Movies were shown early in the Opera House’s existence and became an even more popular pastime leading to a new venue dedicated to films. The New Idea Theatre launched here on November 29, 1906 With short films and live entertainment. About six months later, new operators renamed the venue as the Empire Theatre opening on June 13, 1907 showing movies.
The venue changed names again to the Paramount Theatre in 1915. Its pipe organ became expendable not long after architect C.W. Steinbaugh’s remodeling of the Paramount in 1927 which would lead to sound movies. Its organ would move to the Booth Theatre in 1931. On June 24, 1939, the Booth Brothers sold three of their venues (Booth Theaters in Auburn and Nebraska City and Paramount in Nebraska City) to the Williams-Griffith Theatre Circuit took over the location.
Griffith gave the venue one final new name as the town’s original Pioneer Theatre on July 12, 1940. The Pioneer Theatre’s final screenings were on December 3, 1947. In the early hours of December 4, 1947, the building was destroyed by fire. A new Pioneer Theatre was built and remained in operation as a triplex to the 21st Century.
The Overland Theatre launched with a live performance of “Secret Service” on December 18, 1897. Chicago architect Sidney Lovell drew the plans for the venue which had 820 seats at opening for legendary local businessman, J. Sterling Morton. The drop curtain dramatized the 1864 Overland stagecoach attack by Cheyenne Indians in the valley of Little Blue.
Wesley and Robert Booth of Booth Brothers Circuit launched the Booth Theatre on June 4, 1931 with Jackie Cooper in “Donovan’s Kid.” Harry Lourie of Omaha designed the theater and architect W.E. Stockham was the local architect. The Booth had 750 seats at opening and a 16'x21' screen. The pipe organ from the Paramount Theatre was moved to the Booth at launch.
On June 24, 1939, the Booth Brothers sold three of their venues (Booth Theaters in Auburn and Nebraska City and Paramount in Nebraska City) to the Griffith Theatre Circuit took over the location, the gave the Booth Theatre a streamline moderne makeover complete a new sign spelling, “Arbor.” That was the theater’s new name as of May 28, 1940 at a rechristening ceremony attended by Mayor Ziegenbein.
On July 3, 1929, Robert Booth moved the Booth to its new and current location with a grand reopening as the New Booth Theatre. Wes W. Booth took over the theater in 1934. It had been renamed the Booth Theatre.
Architect C.W. Steinbaugh was the architect who performed the overhaul of the Empress in 1927
The Cine Pointe 6 Theatre closed on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened July 3, 2020. It closed again due to lack of business on August 28, 2020 hoping to reopen in 2021. On May 15, 2021, a decision was announced that closed the venue permanently. It was one of many theatres that announced a permanent closure due to the pandemic.
It’s difficult to keep all screens operating 7 days a week with so few major releases in the COVID-19 pandemic environment. I’d look for reduced staffs and fewer screens in usage at the Alamo locations until the major releases come later in 2021.
Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes closed March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with all of Alamo’s other 40 locations. Half of the circuit’s theaters briefly relaunched later that year but the Westlakes remained closed.
Alamo Drafthouse then declared bankruptcy on March 3, 2021 with three locations immediately shuttered. As the circuit re-emerged from bankruptcy a month later in April of 2021, it announced that the March 17, 2020 closure of the Westlakes would also be permanent.
Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn closed March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. Half of the circuit’s locations opened briefly later in the year excluding its Brooklyn theater. Alamo Drafthouse would file for bankruptcy on March 2, 2021. The company re-emerged from bankruptcy a month later after the takeover of the company by Fortress Investment Group,. The Brooklyn location then reopened on May 7, 2021 becoming the second theater in the Circuit to reopen for the circuit that year preceded only by its Springfield, Missouri venue.
A week after celebrating its third anniversary, Alamo Drafthouse Mueller closed March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with all of Alamo’s other 40 locations. 20 locations including the Mueller relaunched Friday, August 21, 2020. On October 5, 2020, Alamo joined Regal Theatres in shuttering for the pandemic a second time.
Alamo Drafthouse then declared bankruptcy on March 3, 2021 emerging with a new structure a month later allowing the circuit to continue operations with four locations shuttered. The Mueller was the third location to reopen for the circuit along with its Downtown Los Angeles location on May 28, 2021.
Just shy of its eighth month of operation, Alamo Drafthouse Downtown L.A. closed March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with all of Alamo’s other 40 locations. 20 locations excluding L.A. relaunched later in the year briefly. Alamo Drafthouse then declared bankruptcy on March 3, 2021 emerging with a new structure a month later allowing the circuit to continue operations with four locations shuttered. The Downtown L.A. was the third location to reopen for the circuit along with its Mueller location San Antonio on May 28, 2021.
Regal closed here on October 8, 2020. Regal had placed it on the list of theater relaunching on May 21, 2021 only to reverse course and placed it on a “to be determined” opening list.
The Burke Theatre was announced in 1913 and launched May 16, 1914 as a movie house. As the Burke, the final film ran October 20, 1925 as “The Live Wire” with Johnny Hines. The theatre was gutted by a fire early the next morning. The Saxe Amusement Circuit took on the venue relaunching as the Cameo Theatre on July 10, 1926 with “The Wilderness Woman.” The Fox Circuit took over the Saxe theaters including the Cameo in January of 1928 with the Cameo not transitioning to sound and closing.
The Cameo was used for church services until Willard Miller took on the venue. he installed wide range sound equipment relaunching the Cameo on September 17, 1933 with “Hat Check Girl” at the grand reopening. The theatre was then renamed the Chief Theatre - a name it retained until new owners too over in July 1943. Francis Schlax changed the name to the Ken Theatre on July 23, 1943 as a continuous-run, popular price, second-run discount house or grind house. It relaunched with Mickey Rooney in “The Human Comedy” supported by “Yanks Ahoy.” Standards Theatres closed the venue as the Ken Theater in January of 1945.
The 1870-built building was once the home of the Elks Club on its upper floors. The Bijou Theatre launched there on January 14, 1905 with continuous vaudeville. After several operator changes, Frank J. O'Brien took on the Bijou and relaunched it after a refresh as the Princess Theatre on September 15, 1913 with live vaudeville and two Kinemacolor films. He closed it in May of 1914 citing financial difficulties. Chicago operators took over the Princess relaunching it as the Virginian Theatre on September 24, 1914 with vaudeville and films.
Paramount films including “The Sheik” filled the crowds to capacity suggesting that the Virginian was too small to meet demand. The Virginian closed October 30, 1922 at the end of lease. The theatre equipment was auctioned off and stayed in place briefly when purchased by the Ke-Nash-A Club. When they moved out in 1923, the venue transitioned to a soda fountain.
The Mid-City Outdoor opened on April 16, 1949 with “Red River.” The ozoner closed after 35 years likely at end of lease with its final films on September 2, 1984 as “Oxford Blues,” “C.H.U.D.” and “Humanoids from the Deep.”
Harold W. Struve opened the Oregon Trail drive-in on July 13, 1953 with Vince Edwards in “Hiawatha”. Struve had operated the original Majestic Theatre but it was destroyed by a tornado on May 9, 1953. The Oregon Trail was the only theatre in town until the New Majestic Theatre launched January 9, 1954.
The original theatre design was rustic as the Oregon Trail feel was accomplished with the concession stand and projection booth housed in “The Ranch House” decked out in knotty pine and relics from pioneer days spread throughout the facility. On May 3, 1957 it was taken over by new operators and renamed Hebron Drive-In screening Phil Carey in “Port Afrique.”
I called there and the staff was on site trying to get it to reopen…. yet still will not be taking that bet.
Charles Pacini closed his Cozy Theatre on March 12, 1917 moving the equipment to the new build Butterfly Theatre which launched on March 17, 1917. The architect for the theater was Charles O. Augustine. Augustine would also draw plans for refurbishing the nearby Majestic Theatre. The new Butterfly launched with 650 seats, a Bartola Orchestra pipe organ. The opening feature was Charlie Chaplin in “On Easy Street” and Helen Rosson in “The Undertow.” The theatre was equipped for sound to remain viable. It received a major refresh relaunching as the “New” Butterfly Theatre on September 2, 1932 on a new 20-year lease.
On May 10, 1941, the refurbished venue became the Hollywood Theatre. Television hurt its revenue and it closed at the end of lease on April 30, 1952. It then reopened on October 16, 1953 with new operators. It closed May 2, 1954 with a double feature of “The Glass Web” and “Scared Stiff.”
Final show was December 6, 2001.
The Pastime Theatre launched august 10, 1908 with motion pictures consisting of the “Gans-Nelson Fight,” “The Guilty Conscience,” “ John’s New Suit; or, Why He Didn’t Go to Church,” and “There’s Nobody Just Like You.”