Pioneer Theatre

Located at 117 South Main Street in Lamar, The Opera House was built in 1889. The building also contained other businesses on the ground floor. Prior to a fire in 1891, the building housed a barbershop which was said to be on record as the oldest in the state. Various programs were held in The Opera House, which later was renamed the Pioneer Theater after significant renovations due to the fire.

On November 15, 1946, the new Lamar Theater opened another block south on Main Street. The Pioneer stayed open for events until it was closed in the mid-to-late 50s. My uncle Kyrle Seals worked at both theaters, and when the Pioneer was closing for good, he was tasked with burning anything paper or fabric…posters, play bills, tickets, etc. He said he tended that fire for nearly a week. He had taken down the rich, blue velvet curtains, which he gave my mother. She made me a beautiful swing coat with the velvet when I was an infant.

For many years, the place where the Pioneer stood was an empty space between Daylight Donuts and Eudora’s Clothing Store. There were open spaces at the back where the screen and two emergency exits would have been. You could also see faint remnants of the elaborate paintings high up on the side walls. It would be wonderful if someone had photos of what the theatre looked like inside.