Crystal Theatre

Tom Busey launched the Crystal Theatre competing against the existing Bell Theater in downtown Mitchell, Nebraska on June 5, 1912. It was housed in an existing retail building that was built in 1901.

New operator Archie B. Jones took on the Crystal Theatre in 1914 giving the building a refresh with new opera house seating on August 5, 1915 and, more importantly, its own electric generating plant as the theatre had been relying on the local alfalfa plant for current which meant no matinees. On Memorial Day 1918, the theatre hit capacity with “Birth of a Nation”.

Rodell & Steen took on the theatre selling out to McDonald Bros. of Torrington. The Gem Theatre converted to sound on February 5, 1930 with William Boyd in “Officer O'Brien.” The Crystal Theatre ended operations on November 20, 1939 with Joel McRea in “They Shall Have Music” supported by the Popeye cartoon, “Ghosks is the Bunk,” the Pete Smith short, “Football Thrills” and a Metro Newsreel on a continuous policy. The Nile Theatre launched on November 21, 1939 ending the Crystal Theatre’s tenure.

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