It was originally the Butterfly Theatre (named for its distinctive butterfly-winged ornamentation flanking the proscenium), and was built by the Klinkert Brewery of Racine during Prohibition and operated by local exhibitor Michael Lencioni. It was renamed ‘Hollywood Theatre’ in the 1930s. The final double-feature film program at the Hollywood Theatre was on the night of April 30, 1952. Thereafter the theatre was vacant for a time and was then rented for church services. It was still intact until 1960, when the local Polish Legion of American Veterans post acquired the Hollywood, leveled the floor and walls, and hung a false ceiling, which still remains above it. The Hollywood’s two-manual pipe organ is now in the B'nai Brith Temple in Library Park downtown.
The Vogue Theatre opened in September 1923 and was operated by local barkeep Walter Schlager. It hosted second-run films and live acts into the 1930s. A random search turned up an appearance by Patsy Montana. There was a two-manual Wicks organ. Local exhibitor Bill Exton (who also operated the Roosevelt and Hollywood Theaters) leased the Vogue, which was part of Milwaukee’s Standard Theatres chain in the 1940s. The last regular double-feature program there was on the night of Monday, December 15, 1951, with the outside temperature at fifteen below zero.
It was originally the Butterfly Theatre (named for its distinctive butterfly-winged ornamentation flanking the proscenium), and was built by the Klinkert Brewery of Racine during Prohibition and operated by local exhibitor Michael Lencioni. It was renamed ‘Hollywood Theatre’ in the 1930s. The final double-feature film program at the Hollywood Theatre was on the night of April 30, 1952. Thereafter the theatre was vacant for a time and was then rented for church services. It was still intact until 1960, when the local Polish Legion of American Veterans post acquired the Hollywood, leveled the floor and walls, and hung a false ceiling, which still remains above it. The Hollywood’s two-manual pipe organ is now in the B'nai Brith Temple in Library Park downtown.
The Vogue Theatre opened in September 1923 and was operated by local barkeep Walter Schlager. It hosted second-run films and live acts into the 1930s. A random search turned up an appearance by Patsy Montana. There was a two-manual Wicks organ. Local exhibitor Bill Exton (who also operated the Roosevelt and Hollywood Theaters) leased the Vogue, which was part of Milwaukee’s Standard Theatres chain in the 1940s. The last regular double-feature program there was on the night of Monday, December 15, 1951, with the outside temperature at fifteen below zero.