Plaza Theatre

518 N. Main Street,
Oshkosh, WI 54901

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Marcus Theatres, Paramount Pictures Inc., Standard Theaters Management Corp.

Firms: Charles J. Keller & Son

Functions: Housing

Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Renaissance

Previous Names: Fischer's Theatre, Strand Theatre, Raulf Theatre

Nearby Theaters

RAULF Theatre, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

The Fischer’s Theatre was opened on November 23, 1927 with the world premiere of “On Your Toes” starring Reginald Denny. It was built and operated by Fisher-Paramount Theatres. ‘Singing’ organist Harry Wagner played the Barton 3 manual 11 ranks organ. On June 13, 1929 it was renamed Strand Theatre and was later taken over by Standard Theaters Management Corp. It was renamed Raulf Theatre in December 1952 under Marcus Theatres, and was finally renamed Plaza Theatre in 1968. It was closed in late-May 1979

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

rivest266
rivest266 on September 19, 2010 at 9:07 am

7-page Grand opening ad as Fischer from November 23rd, 1927 can been seen at http://en.calameo.com/books/000247928b6caf6f14f30

rivest266
rivest266 on September 19, 2010 at 1:53 pm

December 24th, 1952 ad (ad Raulf) is at View link

rivest266
rivest266 on September 19, 2010 at 1:54 pm

1968 plaza theatre logo is at View link

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 7, 2012 at 12:24 pm

The grand opening ad Mike Rivest linked to says that the Fischer Theatre was designed by the Milwaukee architectural firm Chas. J. Keller & Son.

Frank W. Fischer’s circuit was a regional affiliate of Paramount Pictures, Fischer-Paramount Theatres.

The style of the theater was Spanish-Atmospheric.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 8, 2012 at 1:42 pm

We need to find a modern address for the Plaza Theatre. Oshkosh renumbered the lots on Main Street in 1957, and the former 200 block became the modern 500 block. The address of The Magnet, a billiard parlor across the street from the former entrance of The Plaza, is 519 N. Main. The address of Mainview Apartments, which appears the be the former entrance to the Raulf Hotel, is 530 N. Main. I would guess that the theater entrance, which was at the south end of the hotel’s frontage, was approximately at modern address 518 N. Main.

Street View needs to be reset, too. It currently shows the Time Theatre, in the modern 400 block of Main Street.

atmos
atmos on December 11, 2012 at 6:14 am

A website on downtown Oshkosh states that is became the Strand in 1930,Raulf 1953 and Plaza 1968 and was demolished in 1979.The site is now occupied by Mainview Apartments.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 11, 2012 at 9:56 am

I don’t think the auditorium building was actually demolished. It appears to have been gutted and filled with floors, and windows were punched in the side walls. If you move Street View three clicks south, you can see the side of the building across the parking lot. Even the stage house is still standing.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 21, 2017 at 4:10 pm

The June 13th, 1929 grand opening ad as Strand can be found in the photo section for this cinema.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 22, 2017 at 6:48 am

November 23rd, 1927 (Fischer), June 13th, 1929 (Strand), December 24th, 1952 (Raulf), March 27th, 1968 (Plaza) grand opening ads can be found in the photo section for this cinema.

Found on Newspapers.com

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 8, 2022 at 11:11 am

Closed in late May 1979.

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