Cameo Theatre

Yes, Mansfield’s early theaters are missing from the database, unless they are early aka’s for the Mansfield. The only mention of the Nugget I’ve found in the trades is in that item from 1924, but it was being advertised in the local newspaper as early as 1918. Then in 1928 there are frequent mentions of a house called the Bonny Theatre, and then in 1930 the New Bonny Theatre, both run by a Robert K. Yancey. I don’t know if the Bonny (CinemaTour spells it Bonnie, but has no information about it) was a different theater or a new name for the Nugget, and I don’t know if the Bonny and New Bonny were in two different buildings, or if either or both were aka’s for the Paradise/Mansfield, so I’m not submitting them, but I’ll leave a comment on the Mansfield page revealing what little I know about them, in anticipation of more information becoming available.

Here is an announcement about the Cozy/Cameo Theatre from The Reel Journal of March 22, 1924:

“MOUNTAIN GROVE, MO.

“TO OPEN NEW THEATRE

“The Collier-Roberston building at Mountain Grove. Mo., will soon be remodeled and decorated in order to make possible a new ground floor motion picture theatre. The theatre will be modern in every respect, and will be beautifully lighted, ventilated and decorated.

“Dr. J. H. Riley of Mansfield, Mo., has owned and managed the Nugget Theatre in Mansfield for many years, will be the owner of the new house in Mountain Grove.

“The name of the theatre will be decided by the public, and the grand opening will be announced later as the work progresses. The new theatre will play only new pictures, and it will have a stage of sufficient size to accommodate vaudeville acts and theatrical troupes.

“It is the plan of the owners and builders to give to the people of Mountain Grove one of the finest picture houses in the Ozarks.”