Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“According to Edgar Weston, late area historian, the Gem Theater opened in the Yale Theater building. Earl Freiburger purchased and opened the Gem about 1919 and Mr. A.L. Ramsey was the manager. The auditorium was large and roomy, and well seated with comfortable chairs. A Baird projection machine was installed, which was “one of the best in the state.” The Gem was equipped with a gold fiber screen, two big typhoon fans that kept every part of the house cool and the lighting in the theater was splendid. The stage was arranged to accommodate Vaudeville, lectures, athletic and dramatic entertainment too. In 1921, Mr. Ramsey married and moved to Dallas. Misses Lucy Jack and Blanche Cutler operated the Gem Theater and contracted to show Paramount, First National and Goldwyn pictures until W.H. Hale purchased the Gem March 24, 1922.”
Circa 1908 photo & description added credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Oklah Air Dome was built in 1908 by J.L. Overlees, located on the corner of Dewey and Fourth St. It was the place to go on those warm June evenings - until at least until October - to watch a stock company perform a different play each night. It was an open-air theater where you sat under the stars on hard wooden benches and listened to Al Jolson play the piano or William Hart, World Famous Movie star, act out a 3 act play. The theatre remained at 328 Dewey Ave until 1915.”
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Lyric Theater was located on Dewey Ave. next to the City Hall. During the 1930’s it became the Grand Theater.
In 1995 there were efforts by a few citizens of Bartlesville to save the theater from demolition, but as it had been completely reconstructed inside for use as offices and businesses, there were no traces of the theater left - it was torn down in 1996.”
Address was on Johnstone, not Johnson. Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“June 28, 1940 - Osage Theater was at 316 Johnstone, remodeled from the old Odeon March to June 1940. Grand opening and dedicated was June 28, 1940 with a gala affair. Owner was Henry J. Griffing of Griffing Amusement Company. Premiere show was "Irene” starring Anna Neagle. Large opening involved special teas, fashion shows, stunt pilot popular in the 20s and 30s, Art Gobel flew over town, Anna Neagle cut the ribbon, and there was street dances. The Osage closed its doors for the last time April 17, 1974. Robert E. Scott was the manager at that time. May 1981 the building was torn down."
“Dan Higgins, a Decatur police officer, opened a silent movie theatre 110 years ago tonight, on Christmas Eve, in 1913. Located at 1234 East Eldorado Street, Higgins branded it as "The Paris Theater”. Higgins was an efficient traffic cop who directed at the busy corner of East Main and Water Streets. His profession and focus on safety were reflected in his design for the theatre: it was the only one in town where the customers faced the exit. The projection booth was then the usual source of theatre fires. The electrical codes were more rudimentary, and the film projectors ran hot. In case of a fire in the projection booth, the customers would then exit AWAY from the fire.
Higgins was born in Hamilton, Illinois, in 1870. He came to Decatur at age 14 and remained here for the rest of his life. Before his employment as a peace officer, he had worked for the Wabash Railroad as a wheel inspector, where he developed an excellent reputation for his attention to detail.
Higgins sold the theatre in 1920. He died in 1922 at age 51. By 1923 the theatre had closed, and the building was repurposed for commercial use. Today, the site is an empty lot just east of the recently razed union hall building at the corner of Jasper and Eldorado."
Correct address is 234 W. 2nd Street, and was still standing as of the September 2021 street view.
Address confirmed via the below City of Madrid November 2017 request for bids to remove it.
Address was 1113 Boundary Street and has been Demolished.
Below description credit JeAnais Mitchell:
“The Palm Theatre was contracted by Mr. J. Young who used "Lay-Mor concrete blocks, made here in Beaufort.. in this modern little theatre.” It seated about 300. It was managed by Mr. Earl Smith, the brother of Ira Smith.“
JeAnais Mitchell’s website below also has multiple other Beaufort theatres that will need CT pages created for them.
Repeat image from an unknown book added, offers a different timeline on renovations and re-openings.
It claims renovated in 1978, but didn’t reopen until 1983.
Closed again in 1999.
Renovated again to restore it’s art deco look, some of which was lost in the previous renovation.
Opened as Lyric Theatre Thursday Night October 29, 1925. Prior day newspaper image added announcing Gala Opening the following night. Reopened as Crest Theatre with “Lady and the Tramp” and “Almost Angels” per an October 1962 news post, image added.
Original rendering image added credit Benjamin Gravel. August 2025 street view shows it to be for sale. Satellite view shows it has no roof and is in a stay of decay.
From the City of Rockford Government Facebook page:
“CAPITAL THEATER UPDATE: The City is excited to share progress on the former Capital Theater at 1122 S. Main Street - an important step toward revitalizing this historic landmark.
We have taken action to preserve the building’s iconic front facade, commercial storefronts, and second-floor apartments, positioning the property for future redevelopment. The structure’s most notable features, including its terra-cotta medallions, deep red Spanish tile roof, and the sculpted faces of Anton Rubinstein, William Shakespeare, Enrico Caruso and Giuseppe Verdi, will all remain part of the neighborhood’s architectural character.
To support redevelopment potential, the City has:
• Completed asbestos abatement across the entire structure
• Initiated brownfields environmental assessments to increase marketability
• Ensured the property remains eligible for significant incentives, including historic tax credits
Only the severely deteriorated rear theater portion - long vacant and structurally compromised - is being removed so the remainder of the building can be safely stabilized and marketed to investors.
This partial demolition and preservation plan was approved by both the City’s Finance & Personnel Committee and the full City Council in August 2025.
These steps reflect our commitment to protecting historic assets while paving the way for new investment and opportunity along South Main Street.”
Re-Opened in November 2025 as The Ingersoll, a live music & dinner theatre venue.
Official Website, Facebook page and KCCI news piece below.
(The venue has 187 seats downstairs and 44 seats in the club level, which has a private bar, private restroom, and an elevator.)-KCCI
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“According to Edgar Weston, late area historian, the Gem Theater opened in the Yale Theater building. Earl Freiburger purchased and opened the Gem about 1919 and Mr. A.L. Ramsey was the manager. The auditorium was large and roomy, and well seated with comfortable chairs. A Baird projection machine was installed, which was “one of the best in the state.” The Gem was equipped with a gold fiber screen, two big typhoon fans that kept every part of the house cool and the lighting in the theater was splendid. The stage was arranged to accommodate Vaudeville, lectures, athletic and dramatic entertainment too. In 1921, Mr. Ramsey married and moved to Dallas. Misses Lucy Jack and Blanche Cutler operated the Gem Theater and contracted to show Paramount, First National and Goldwyn pictures until W.H. Hale purchased the Gem March 24, 1922.”
Circa 1908 photo & description added credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Oklah Air Dome was built in 1908 by J.L. Overlees, located on the corner of Dewey and Fourth St. It was the place to go on those warm June evenings - until at least until October - to watch a stock company perform a different play each night. It was an open-air theater where you sat under the stars on hard wooden benches and listened to Al Jolson play the piano or William Hart, World Famous Movie star, act out a 3 act play. The theatre remained at 328 Dewey Ave until 1915.”
July 2024 link with full history and additional photos.
https://sapulpatimes.com/this-week-in-sapulpa-history-yale-theatre/
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Lyric Theater was located on Dewey Ave. next to the City Hall. During the 1930’s it became the Grand Theater. In 1995 there were efforts by a few citizens of Bartlesville to save the theater from demolition, but as it had been completely reconstructed inside for use as offices and businesses, there were no traces of the theater left - it was torn down in 1996.”
Address was on Johnstone, not Johnson.
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“June 28, 1940 - Osage Theater was at 316 Johnstone, remodeled from the old Odeon March to June 1940. Grand opening and dedicated was June 28, 1940 with a gala affair. Owner was Henry J. Griffing of Griffing Amusement Company. Premiere show was "Irene” starring Anna Neagle. Large opening involved special teas, fashion shows, stunt pilot popular in the 20s and 30s, Art Gobel flew over town, Anna Neagle cut the ribbon, and there was street dances. The Osage closed its doors for the last time April 17, 1974. Robert E. Scott was the manager at that time. May 1981 the building was torn down."
Full history credit History of the Heartland:
“Dan Higgins, a Decatur police officer, opened a silent movie theatre 110 years ago tonight, on Christmas Eve, in 1913. Located at 1234 East Eldorado Street, Higgins branded it as "The Paris Theater”. Higgins was an efficient traffic cop who directed at the busy corner of East Main and Water Streets. His profession and focus on safety were reflected in his design for the theatre: it was the only one in town where the customers faced the exit. The projection booth was then the usual source of theatre fires. The electrical codes were more rudimentary, and the film projectors ran hot. In case of a fire in the projection booth, the customers would then exit AWAY from the fire. Higgins was born in Hamilton, Illinois, in 1870. He came to Decatur at age 14 and remained here for the rest of his life. Before his employment as a peace officer, he had worked for the Wabash Railroad as a wheel inspector, where he developed an excellent reputation for his attention to detail. Higgins sold the theatre in 1920. He died in 1922 at age 51. By 1923 the theatre had closed, and the building was repurposed for commercial use. Today, the site is an empty lot just east of the recently razed union hall building at the corner of Jasper and Eldorado."
Correct address is 234 W. 2nd Street, and was still standing as of the September 2021 street view. Address confirmed via the below City of Madrid November 2017 request for bids to remove it.
https://madridiowa.org/bids-for-movie-theater-removal/
Address was 1113 Boundary Street and has been Demolished. Below description credit JeAnais Mitchell: “The Palm Theatre was contracted by Mr. J. Young who used "Lay-Mor concrete blocks, made here in Beaufort.. in this modern little theatre.” It seated about 300. It was managed by Mr. Earl Smith, the brother of Ira Smith.“ JeAnais Mitchell’s website below also has multiple other Beaufort theatres that will need CT pages created for them.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/8b7078a7ef2d4fe99aa5058e095eefc7
Repeat image from an unknown book added, offers a different timeline on renovations and re-openings. It claims renovated in 1978, but didn’t reopen until 1983. Closed again in 1999. Renovated again to restore it’s art deco look, some of which was lost in the previous renovation.
Remodeled and reopened by John Michael King in 1995 as The Old Princess Theatre a live music venue. Print ad and tickets added. Unknown closure date.
Listing courtesy it’s current owners. Copy and paste to open.
https://lacdb.com/listings/6a138dae-446-vallette-st/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO5e8BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFxYlQ0enpMTG41S01sVWZ6c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhzh3DLsKvZtlzvpw1mrPQnVfcnhoWKKH9ASPKnWnsRGXCkz3k9P2sZ8wauY_aem_1TfieICZ7w_KNKvUKhBvZQ
Circa 1958 photo credit Archive Of American Television / EyesOfAGeneration.com
1960 photo credit Ed Roseberry, UVA Alumni Association.
Update: 1960 photo credit Ed Roseberry, UVA Alumni Association.
Update: Photo credit Historic Alexandria Foundation.
Opened as Lyric Theatre Thursday Night October 29, 1925. Prior day newspaper image added announcing Gala Opening the following night. Reopened as Crest Theatre with “Lady and the Tramp” and “Almost Angels” per an October 1962 news post, image added.
Crisper version.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122192712494435279&set=g.1574918839849023
Building to be auctioned off.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/15/cinema-chatham-building-once-one-of-the-south-sides-few-movie-theaters-is-up-for-auction/?utm_content=buffer30f54&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwY2xjawOtiPRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeJdR0urQ8EaMq8csLHCtklcmIZJO3d3N6vMTCvmYnQ0CHlvD5FDrik5K9P04_aem_WtcQeRnRXlyVJB8_XpD4rw
Mercury Studio Collection.
https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll2/id/2/rec/2
Mercury Studio Collection.
https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll2/id/1/rec/1
Address was 111 N. 6th Street. Circa 1915 photo added credit Charles Adams, courtesy Springfield Rewind.
Original rendering image added credit Benjamin Gravel.
August 2025 street view shows it to be for sale.
Satellite view shows it has no roof and is in a stay of decay.
From the City of Rockford Government Facebook page:
“CAPITAL THEATER UPDATE: The City is excited to share progress on the former Capital Theater at 1122 S. Main Street - an important step toward revitalizing this historic landmark. We have taken action to preserve the building’s iconic front facade, commercial storefronts, and second-floor apartments, positioning the property for future redevelopment. The structure’s most notable features, including its terra-cotta medallions, deep red Spanish tile roof, and the sculpted faces of Anton Rubinstein, William Shakespeare, Enrico Caruso and Giuseppe Verdi, will all remain part of the neighborhood’s architectural character. To support redevelopment potential, the City has: • Completed asbestos abatement across the entire structure • Initiated brownfields environmental assessments to increase marketability • Ensured the property remains eligible for significant incentives, including historic tax credits Only the severely deteriorated rear theater portion - long vacant and structurally compromised - is being removed so the remainder of the building can be safely stabilized and marketed to investors. This partial demolition and preservation plan was approved by both the City’s Finance & Personnel Committee and the full City Council in August 2025. These steps reflect our commitment to protecting historic assets while paving the way for new investment and opportunity along South Main Street.”
Re-Opened in November 2025 as The Ingersoll, a live music & dinner theatre venue. Official Website, Facebook page and KCCI news piece below. (The venue has 187 seats downstairs and 44 seats in the club level, which has a private bar, private restroom, and an elevator.)-KCCI
https://www.theingersoll.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579515766491
https://www.kcci.com/article/historic-ingersoll-theater-in-des-moines-set-to-reopen-in-november/66115333?fbclid=IwY2xjawOn0ZNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFzOEFrY25ITXV1MU5Ja0h4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo_-DekS5JYCgCe0u2RkHZagPoRXtAqnRDMfnaotcn9q_pvdHajcBFhI9tv2_aem_bJVd079ZcC9apZ-T3SadrQ