The Grand Theatre opened in the existing McArthur Block by C.L. Blades and E.J. Erickson on October 23, 1912 with 210 patrons - a sell-out. Manager Billy Trout was in charge. It closed July 19, 1915 for larger digs.
The 400-seat grander New Grand opened in the existing Greengard’s retail store building on July 23, 1915. Four fans improved ventilation over the previous venue. It added sound to remain viable. Carter S. Troyer took on the venue closing it for the summer of 1931. It re-emerged to the plans of E.A. Engebretson as the State Theatre now with sound on September 15, 1931. Troyer gave it a streamline moderne refresh in 1937 reducing seat count to 275. He gave the lobby and front a refresh in 1950 with seat count at 305. He was accused of underreporting box office totals from 1941 to 1952 by the major studios. Not long after Quad-States Theatre Services was handling the booking likely indicating a settlement.
William and Valerie Nostdahl bought it as a project n 1992 as the Botno Theatre. It was still operating in the 2020s under different operators.
Arvid Wiklund and Arnold O. Lona took over Guss Freed’s Grand and Philip B Pietz’s Rialto theaters, locally, and merged them into the State Theatre in the existing W.L. Gardner Block at 740 Main Street. It opened December 30, 1927 with Richard Dix in “Knockout Reilly.” On February 27, 1930 the venue was equipped with sound with “The Rainbow Man.”
The operators announced an August 16, 1981 closure with “Cannonball Run” selling out. But the theatre reopened one more time by Gottschalk Theatres before closing permanently November 4, 1984 with “Flash Point.” The theatre was offered for sale in the classifieds thereafter. It was demolished on March 21-29, 2001.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
The Orpheum became the VFW fraternal hall and it was demolished at the end of its 20-year term in September of 1970.
Opened Sept. 12, 1952 with “Lydia Bailey.” It closed on September 4, 2011 with Jason Momoa as “Conan, The Barbarian.” The Lake Park was demolished at the end of its second 30-year leasing term on July 31, 2012.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
Virgil Gould and Art Kuhlman launched this 420-car venue on August 25, 1949 with “Homestretch.” It appears to have closed on September 25, 1961 with “The Gazebo.” In 1967, the venue was reportedly removed for a planned motel which does not appear to have been built.
The small-town Floodwood Theatre with Finnish- and Swedish-language film programming that reflects the enduring Scandinavian immigrant traditions of Minnesota… Siistiä!
At the end of the 1964 season, Bob Rosen took on the venue renaming it as the Star-Lite Outdoor Theatre beginning on April 29, 1965. During the season it was sold again to R&D Amusements of Bismarck. It was reacquired by Rosen who operated until closure in 1986 (twinned in 1981 as the Star Lite Outdoor Theatre 1 & 2).
You can leave that as is. But an alternate view suggests that the Auditorium was part of the Community Hall addition built in 1926. It was equipped with a projector in 1927 according to the trade press and booking contracts show a very low licensing fee for the town which never reached 450 residents. Size reports rabge from 126 to 208 in the trade press.
The films first appear to have ended silently in 1930 with the venue’s continuation for events. It was equipped for sound in 1936, closed and reopened in 1937 continuing into the 1950s.
The Empress opened on November 13, 1915 with “The Romance of a Traveling Man.” It closed just a little over a year later but was reopened in 1917 by J.C. “Doc” Marsh who closed it again in early May 1918. J.E. Ringheim took on that space in November of 1918 for a dry cleaner, The Suitatorium.
Sullivan & Collins opened in the Syndicate Block that formerly housed the Boys Club on March 25, 1908. The Dreamland closed in 1913 likely at the end of its 5-year lease.
The Lyric Theatre opened June 10, 1909 with Edwin S. Porter’s “A Dumb Hero,“ and two Pathé films, “Mysterious Correspondent” and “Two Very Unlucky Thieves.” The Lyric’s de facto concession stand was Al’s Confectionery. The theatre closed February 9, 1918. (Al’s continued to 1929 before becoming the long-running LewDoc Café with the Canton Theatre not far away.)
William P. Lowell took over the KOH on April 1, 1926 as the Lowell Theatre. He equipped it for sound at some point. E.D. “Red” Nash took on the venue giving it a streamline makeover with its new Canton Theatre moniker with Roscoe Karns as “Clarence” on March 18, 1937. It got another streamline makeover and better sound system at a December 1, 1946 reboot with Jackie Jenkins as “Butch!”
The Lucky 13 Drive-In opened on Missouri Highway 13 on June 13, 1952 with “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.” It looks like they operated until June of 1987 - likely the end of a 25-year leasing agreement.
Trivia note: The Sherwood Theatre sold on eBay for $4,000 on August 29, 2026.
The Grand Theatre opened in the existing McArthur Block by C.L. Blades and E.J. Erickson on October 23, 1912 with 210 patrons - a sell-out. Manager Billy Trout was in charge. It closed July 19, 1915 for larger digs.
The 400-seat grander New Grand opened in the existing Greengard’s retail store building on July 23, 1915. Four fans improved ventilation over the previous venue. It added sound to remain viable. Carter S. Troyer took on the venue closing it for the summer of 1931. It re-emerged to the plans of E.A. Engebretson as the State Theatre now with sound on September 15, 1931. Troyer gave it a streamline moderne refresh in 1937 reducing seat count to 275. He gave the lobby and front a refresh in 1950 with seat count at 305. He was accused of underreporting box office totals from 1941 to 1952 by the major studios. Not long after Quad-States Theatre Services was handling the booking likely indicating a settlement.
William and Valerie Nostdahl bought it as a project n 1992 as the Botno Theatre. It was still operating in the 2020s under different operators.
Arvid Wiklund and Arnold O. Lona took over Guss Freed’s Grand and Philip B Pietz’s Rialto theaters, locally, and merged them into the State Theatre in the existing W.L. Gardner Block at 740 Main Street. It opened December 30, 1927 with Richard Dix in “Knockout Reilly.” On February 27, 1930 the venue was equipped with sound with “The Rainbow Man.”
The operators announced an August 16, 1981 closure with “Cannonball Run” selling out. But the theatre reopened one more time by Gottschalk Theatres before closing permanently November 4, 1984 with “Flash Point.” The theatre was offered for sale in the classifieds thereafter. It was demolished on March 21-29, 2001.
Cecil Hamers opened the Midway Drive-In and definitely was still its operator in 1971 for what may be its final season.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
The Orpheum became the VFW fraternal hall and it was demolished at the end of its 20-year term in September of 1970.
Opened Sept. 12, 1952 with “Lydia Bailey.” It closed on September 4, 2011 with Jason Momoa as “Conan, The Barbarian.” The Lake Park was demolished at the end of its second 30-year leasing term on July 31, 2012.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
A new sound system in 1934
Virgil Gould and Art Kuhlman launched this 420-car venue on August 25, 1949 with “Homestretch.” It appears to have closed on September 25, 1961 with “The Gazebo.” In 1967, the venue was reportedly removed for a planned motel which does not appear to have been built.
Closed on January 1, 1956 with “Conflict” and “Russian Holiday.”
The small-town Floodwood Theatre with Finnish- and Swedish-language film programming that reflects the enduring Scandinavian immigrant traditions of Minnesota… Siistiä!
The Lakeview Drive-In Theatre was opened by auto dealer Neale Starks on July 7, 1952.
A Christmas gift as the Cheri Theatre is added to the Capri Theatre in 1968.
At the end of the 1964 season, Bob Rosen took on the venue renaming it as the Star-Lite Outdoor Theatre beginning on April 29, 1965. During the season it was sold again to R&D Amusements of Bismarck. It was reacquired by Rosen who operated until closure in 1986 (twinned in 1981 as the Star Lite Outdoor Theatre 1 & 2).
Reboots as the Star Lite Outdoor Theatre on 1 & 2 on April 16, 1981. It remains the Star Lite Outdoor Theatre 1 & 2 for six seasons before closing.
A 1981 ad as the Star Lite Outdoor Theatre.
You can leave that as is. But an alternate view suggests that the Auditorium was part of the Community Hall addition built in 1926. It was equipped with a projector in 1927 according to the trade press and booking contracts show a very low licensing fee for the town which never reached 450 residents. Size reports rabge from 126 to 208 in the trade press.
The films first appear to have ended silently in 1930 with the venue’s continuation for events. It was equipped for sound in 1936, closed and reopened in 1937 continuing into the 1950s.
The Elgin Theatre closed on March 2, 1954. It was replaced by the new-build Carson Theatre which launched May 14, 1954.
The Empress opened on November 13, 1915 with “The Romance of a Traveling Man.” It closed just a little over a year later but was reopened in 1917 by J.C. “Doc” Marsh who closed it again in early May 1918. J.E. Ringheim took on that space in November of 1918 for a dry cleaner, The Suitatorium.
Sullivan & Collins opened in the Syndicate Block that formerly housed the Boys Club on March 25, 1908. The Dreamland closed in 1913 likely at the end of its 5-year lease.
The Lyric Theatre opened June 10, 1909 with Edwin S. Porter’s “A Dumb Hero,“ and two Pathé films, “Mysterious Correspondent” and “Two Very Unlucky Thieves.” The Lyric’s de facto concession stand was Al’s Confectionery. The theatre closed February 9, 1918. (Al’s continued to 1929 before becoming the long-running LewDoc Café with the Canton Theatre not far away.)
William P. Lowell took over the KOH on April 1, 1926 as the Lowell Theatre. He equipped it for sound at some point. E.D. “Red” Nash took on the venue giving it a streamline makeover with its new Canton Theatre moniker with Roscoe Karns as “Clarence” on March 18, 1937. It got another streamline makeover and better sound system at a December 1, 1946 reboot with Jackie Jenkins as “Butch!”
The Cass County Drive-In was opened on August 11, 1950 with Yvonne De Carlo in “Buccaneer’s Girl”.
The New Electric Theatre launched September 26, 1908. It closed on March 9, 1929 with Rex, King of Horses, in “The Devil Horse.”
The Lucky 13 Drive-In opened on Missouri Highway 13 on June 13, 1952 with “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.” It looks like they operated until June of 1987 - likely the end of a 25-year leasing agreement.