The Ishpeming Theatre was the largest theater in Ishpeming during my recollections of the late 40’s and 50’s. In my high school days, I ran the projector there. My best memories though were going to the Ishpeming Theater every Saturday for the matinee for 12c. There was always a great double feature of Tarzan, Tom Mix, Roy Rogers or great movies of the day. Always a couple of cartoons and then followed by a continuing serial feature. They also had occasional live shows and had a large stage to handle the productions. Loved the balcony. I left Ishpeming in about 1956 and the theater closed somewhere around that time and then eventually was demolished. I saw something on a Michigan history page that claimed the Ishpeming theater operated until 1985. I, personally, find that hard to believe.
The advertisements used to claim it was six miles West of Ishpeming. Also, at one time there was a radio station and tower across the highway. WJAN at 970 on the dial. That was around 1956 or so. Great memories, as I used to operate the projectors there for awhile and also worked at the radio station.
I write this, on the day after the death of Chuck Berry. His death reminded me of seeing him perform along with Lavern Baker, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis at the Colonial Theatre. During the mid 50’s, many of the rising stars of Rock and Roll played at this theatre before Dick Clark started bringing his Cavalcade of Stars around the country to larger venues. This was a great time for the Colonial Theatre and should be noted as a part of it’s later history.
The Ishpeming Theatre was the largest theater in Ishpeming during my recollections of the late 40’s and 50’s. In my high school days, I ran the projector there. My best memories though were going to the Ishpeming Theater every Saturday for the matinee for 12c. There was always a great double feature of Tarzan, Tom Mix, Roy Rogers or great movies of the day. Always a couple of cartoons and then followed by a continuing serial feature. They also had occasional live shows and had a large stage to handle the productions. Loved the balcony. I left Ishpeming in about 1956 and the theater closed somewhere around that time and then eventually was demolished. I saw something on a Michigan history page that claimed the Ishpeming theater operated until 1985. I, personally, find that hard to believe.
The advertisements used to claim it was six miles West of Ishpeming. Also, at one time there was a radio station and tower across the highway. WJAN at 970 on the dial. That was around 1956 or so. Great memories, as I used to operate the projectors there for awhile and also worked at the radio station.
I write this, on the day after the death of Chuck Berry. His death reminded me of seeing him perform along with Lavern Baker, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis at the Colonial Theatre. During the mid 50’s, many of the rising stars of Rock and Roll played at this theatre before Dick Clark started bringing his Cavalcade of Stars around the country to larger venues. This was a great time for the Colonial Theatre and should be noted as a part of it’s later history.