Jonesville Theater

E. Chicago Street and Maumee Street,
Jonesville, MI 49250

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Additional Info

Architects: Charles Howard Crane

Previous Names: Theater

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Jonesville Theater

The Jonesville Theater was created for Norman H. Widger by architect Charles Howard Crane. It closes during its initial ten year lease and taken over by Mrs. Alfred C. Lane in 1919 who runs it until collapsing at the Theater on March 10, 1931. Exactly one year later on March 11, 1932, the Theater was destroyed by a massive fire.

The Saulk Theatre was built on the site.

Contributed by dallasmovietheaters

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 5, 2016 at 12:25 am

The fire that destroyed the Jonesville Theatre took place in the early morning hours of March 11, 1932, according to the report in that days edition of The Battle Creek Enquirer and The Evening News:

“JONESVILLE THEATER DESTROYED BY BLAZE

“Damage Amounts to $60,000 As Flames Threaten Entire Business Block.

“(Special to the Enquirer-News)

“Jonesville, March 11.——An entire block of business structures was threatened early this morning when the Jonesvllle theater was destroyed by fire at an estimated loss of $60,000.

“Fire was first noticed at 1 o'clock this morning after it had gained considerable headway. Fire trucks from Hillsdale, 18 miles west, and from Richman and Allen, nearby towns, were called into action. Firemen got the blaze under control at 7 o'clock this morning and succeeded in confining the loss for the most part to the theater structure. The building was owned by Alf Lane of Jonesville. Insurance amounted to only $4,000, he said.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 5, 2016 at 12:43 am

There is no Main Street in Jonesville today. The theater was most likely located on the thoroughfare that is now called Chicago Street, along one block of which most of the town’s old commercial buildings are situated. As the fire report said that the blaze threatened an entire business block, I think the theater must have been on E. Chicago Street between Maumee Street and Water Street. That’s the only block in town that shows signs of having been pretty solidly built up with commercial buildings at that time.

Vanyaphonic
Vanyaphonic on January 17, 2019 at 12:21 pm

This theater stood where the current Saulk theater stands. Notice the carriage house accross the alley behind the theater. It still stands.

It appears that the new theater was built using some of the existing walls. The current stage house retains many elements of the old theater.

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