Princess Theatre

50sSNIPES on October 8, 2022 at 3:36 pm

First opened as the “Vaudette” in 1907, before changing its name to the Square Theatre on March 6, 1912. The Square Theatre changed its name to the Princess Theatre under the new management of Thomas Whipple on April 23, 1916.

On January 8, 1917, A.A. Schiffer became the new owner of the theater which was conducted by Whiffle a few months prior. Unfortunately, this errantly turned into a wrong direction.

On February 27, 1917, the Princess Theatre closed its doors for the final time immediately after the owner, Schiffer, took his own life by hanging from a railing of the balcony leading to the projection booth inside the theater. His brother and the operator of the theater, Oscar Schiffer, discovered his body shortly around 4:00 PM right after he entered the building and taking a couple of steps. Schiffer was well-known for the city of Menasha. It was unknown why the owner of the theater committed suicide shortly after he greeted the people working at the theater 30 minutes before the suicide. Shortly before he entered the Princess Theatre for the last time, he was talking to his friend W.H. Pierce at the Pierce Brothers Bowling Alley. Pierce is also the owner of the bowling alley. People at the Princess Theatre knew before the incident that he had a “happy frame of mind”. Shortly after Oscar discovered the body, Dr. G.E. Forkin was called as well as Winnebago County Coroner E.T. Philips. The body was taken to the undertaking parlors of the Menasha Furniture Company, before taking to his house on First Street.