Princess Theater

E.L. Rakes was a movie theater operator in Sturgis. Two of his venues burned down. The first was destroyed in the July 6, 1913 fire that wiped out all of downtown save three buildings. The second ended the Princess Theatre in 1942.

The New Princess was a sound-era venue and it launched for Rakes on December 19, 1932 with 250 seats. It was the second Princess Theatre in town. The former Princess became the Ritz Theatre opening November 5, 1932 by William Earl Horsefield and Eddie Johnson. For a town of 2,000 to have two theaters open within weeks of each other was fairly unusual.

Princess “#2” received a streamline remodeling that brought it to 225 seats. Unfortunately, in 1942, the auditorium of the Princess was gutted by fire. The front and lobby portion were retained and transitioned to a photography studio. Rakes had operated Sturgis' first photography studio and became the operator here later. He continued the operation for decades according to local reports. The building today is the offices of a mine equipment company.

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