Sosna Theatre

From Mexico a photo postcard image the Sosna Theatre.

Iowana Sam Sosna opened his short-lived 350-seat Sosna Theatre on July 11, 1940 with Dick Powell in “Naughty But Nice” along with the Merrie Melody cartoon “Gold Rush Daze”, a “News Of The Day” newsreel, and a Dave Apollon scopitone. It was first managed by Burlington, Kansas resident Jim White.

Some information about the theater goes as follows: The original theater marquee did not last long, but here’s some hints on what it looks like in color. It is a rectangle shaped marquee featuring red marlite with black marlite base trimmed in chrome and a cream-colored bottom. Unfortunately that was replaced during the war with a V-shaped marquee. There was also attractive letter box on the marquee in metal with changeable silhouette letters. The display cases are in steel with fluorescent for illumination, and the box office is blended marlite fluorescent with two colored combinations of red and gray. The foyer is also in the colors of black, red, and gray colors and the walls are stiped horizontally in four blending shades starting at the floor with blue then light blue followed by peach and cream ceiling.

Inside the auditorium is the foyer being draped in a thick turquoise blue velour curtain that parts in the middle, and was the same material that was used in the seat upholstering as well as the front stage curtain. The walls are paneled in variegated fadeless colored nu-wood with a flat restful smoke blue wall paint in between. Direct soft shadings of fluorescent green and rose colored lights dimply direct the patrons to their seats. The ceiling is also paneled to correspond with the offset pilasters on the walls and is designed by multi-colored nu-wood in herring bone pattern bordered in stylite. Two white daylight fluorescent fixtures adorn the ceiling and are used as house lights. The capacity of 350 seats are almost 7in thick with 12 springs covered in a washable ivory leather with turquoise base and corded velour back with cream metal back plate. These light colored backs and seats are self directing towards the vacant seat. The aisles are completely carpeted and there are two offset aisles which led to the upper seats which gives access to the balcony. There are two side exits on Promenade Street as well as the four front doors making it possible to empty the house easily in case of an emergency. The auditorium is also equipped with both a hot air blower and a U.S. cooling air conditioner. In the fireproof projection booth features Super-Simplex projectors, and the sound installations were RCA High Fidelity sound.

The Sosna Theatre did make a close-call on ending its life after its projector was caught on fire on May 12, 1942. The theater continued operating shortly afterward but unfortunately I cannot find its closing date.

Google Streetview shows that the theatre building has been razed. Status should be demolished.