Melba Theatre

The Melba Theatre opened its doors on August 15, 1934, featuring a 20x23ft stage with a 9x12ft screen. It was closed on January 22, 1940 when a fire and an explosion destroyed the entire theater just two hours before a scheduled showing of Joan Davis in “I’m Too Busy To Work” and Warner Baxter in “Road To Glory” along with an unnamed cartoon.

The fire was confirmed undetermined and happened at approximately 5:45 PM CT. Here’s a little context before the fire: A total of 45 minutes prior to the fire, manager Ralph Hurst turned on the neon lighting and the signs as the sun is in the middle of setting, getting to a good start. Hurst went back home to his family afterward to eat dinner. When he left the building, he noticed that there’s no sign of smoke or fire in the building, nor in the projection booth. The stoves are found close tight just as they left by Hurst. The prints of the two movies and the cartoon are completely destroyed by the flames. A short time after the fire, an explosion went through, breaking the windows in the booth and the flames shooting out of the window. Nearby buildings, including the Connor Variety store and its post office (known as the Postmaster Anglum) suffered damage as well.