Liberty Theatre

The Princess Theatre opened here by J.A. Hughes on September 11, 1911. On March 29, 1913, the theatre added a $5,000 pipe organ and became the Lyric Theatre. In 1918, the theatre was expanded and modernized becoming the Liberty Theatre on December 5, 1918. The Monroe Circuit added the theatre and changed to the Rialto Theatre.

Under new ownership, the Rialto returned to its Liberty Theatre nameplate beginning on December 5, 1924. In 1931, the theatre became a live burlesque house showing exploitation films and second-run films. The theatre closed in November of 1943. The floor was leveled at that time and the building became a cleaner and carpet center. On March 17, 1956, the building was gutted by a major fire.

The Liberty Theatre placed an advertisement in the May 30, 1942, issue of The Billboard, seeking burlesque performers for the summer season. Another ad in the November 14 issue of The Billboard the same year touted the Liberty’s star attraction, Ina Lorraine, featured in a “…novelty dance characterization…” called The Virgin’s Dream.

I’ve been unable to find any earlier or later references to the Liberty Theatre, but in 1942 it was definitely operating as a burlesque house.

All of these buildings except for the Hotel Blackhawk were demolished and The RiverCenter was built. The Northeast corner of 2nd and Perry is now a greenspace.